Britney Spears has hit out at her ex-husband Kevin Federline's "constant gaslighting"

Britney wrote on social media site X: "The constant gaslighting from ex-husband is extremely hurtful and exhausting. I have always pleaded and screamed to have a life with my boys."

The 43-year-old singer continued: "Relationships with teenage boys is complex. I have felt demoralised by this situation and have always asked and almost begged for them to be a part of my life.

"Sadly, they have always witnesses the lack of respect shown by own father for me (sic).

"They need to take responsibility for themselves. With one son only seeing me for 45 min in the past 5 years and the other with only 4 visits in the past 5 years. I have pride too. From now on I will let them know when I am available."

Britney slammed Federline's accusations that she drank wine whilst pregnant and took cocaine during breastfeeding as she accused her former husband of trying to boost sales for his book.

The Gimme More hitmaker wrote: "Trust me, those white lies in that book, they are going straight to the bank and I am the only one who genuinely gets hurt here.

"I will always love them and if you really know me, you won't pay attention to the tabloids of my mental health and drinking.

"I am actually a pretty intelligent woman who has been trying to live a sacred and private life the past 5 years. I speak on this because I have had enough and any real woman would do the same."

Federline - who was married to the star from 2004 until 2006 - argues in the book that Britney's "situation feels like it's racing toward something irreversible" following the termination of her controversial 13-year conservatorship in 2021.

Asked what's going on in Britney's life, he told The Hollywood Reporter: "I think that if anybody's paying attention that they can kind of see for themselves.

"All I really want is for her to be happy and healthy, and I want her to be around for our kids.

"My kids want her to be around for a long time. So I've sounded the alarm. It's become a situation that I need people to start supporting my sons and their mother."