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For Sam Asghari, when it comes to his ex-wife Britney Spears, there’s nothing but respect.
The model and actor appeared on the Wednesday, Feb. 12 episode of The Viall Files podcast where he opened up about meeting Spears, 43, on the set of her “Slumber Party” music video, their seven-year love story and his take on some of her recent controversies.
Asghari, 30, who immigrated from Iran when he was 12, noted that he was “familiar” with who Spears was before he met her, but added, “I didn’t know any of the songs. If you put it on, I couldn’t tell you different.”
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The former couple met when Asghari played Spears’ love interest on the 2016 music video set, and had what he described as a very “natural” connection. They agreed to meet up for a sushi date weeks after the shoot and their romance blossomed from there.
“I got to know her a little bit, and she was super sweet and everything was perfect,” he said of the “Stronger” singer. “And then after that, I think we went to a movie. We kept seeing each other for a very long time,” he added, calling the romance “very traditional.”
But it was after he attended her Las Vegas residency show that Asghari said he realized “what an amazing performer” the pop princess is.
Calling it a “right place, right time,” moment, Asghari said their romance was “meant to be.”
“This is a seven-year-long relationship, and it’s the longest I’ve been in a relationship with somebody, and it’s the longest she’s ever been in a relationship with somebody,” he shared. “But, you know, we had to deal with — she was under the conservatorship, and that was very strange for me to deal with. I got hit with that at the beginning.”
Throughout their ups and downs, Asghari said he wanted to be “the normal” in Spears’ life. “I wanted to be the normal part about that life because she never, I don’t think she had that,” he shared.
Asghari filed for divorce from Spears in August 2023, citing irreconcilable differences. They finalized their divorce in May 2024. Shortly after Asghari’s divorce filing, Spears made headlines for a video of herself dancing with two knives, which she posted on Instagram.
Podcast host Nick Viall asked Asghari for his reaction to the controversial video. He remained neutral, but noted that he’d never have stopped his ex from sharing the clip.
“I’m not someone that’s ‘Let me, let me take your phone from you and not allow you to do anything and restrict you from posting your own content,’ “ Asghari said. “And, and especially if you’re an artist, I think, you know, we’re talking about she’s a genius artist. What’s in her head is gold, and it’s what made her who she is.”
“So when you take away the ability to, you know, make art express yourself, I’m not gonna be the one that’s gonna stop anybody from posting whatever they want,” Asghari added, “especially if dance is the way you express yourself.”
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