Britney Spears‘s ex-husband Sam Asghari said the singer has been ‘oppressed’ by people in her life as he compared her struggles to those of Iranian women.

The fitness trainer, 32, appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored to discuss America’s war with his native country, Iran, just days after the pop star, 44, was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Asghari, who split from Spears in August 2023 after 14 months of marriage, said he will always support the singer’s ‘wellbeing’ and believes she can ‘recover from this.’

When Morgan questioned Asghari about the pop star’s ongoing turmoil, the actor replied, ‘Coming from the country of Iran and seeing women being oppressed… not comparing the situation whatsoever, she was also oppressed by many people who took advantage of her, and sort of had the same experience as women do in Iran.’

‘As someone that’s an advocate for women’s rights and wants freedom of speech, and wants freedom for everybody, it was hard to believe and hard to see that someone in America was being oppressed,’ he went on.

‘I’ve seen what she struggles with. Even though we were married for one year, we were together for seven years, so my respect for her always stands.’ 

Britney Spears’s ex-husband Sam Asghari, 32, said the singer, 44, has been ‘oppressed’ by people in her life as he compared her struggles to those of Iranian women

Asghari split from Spears in August 2023 after 14 months of marriage; The duo pictured in 2019

‘I’m a strong believer that she needs her privacy, and everybody makes mistakes. If she made a mistake, I really think she’s a strong woman and she could come back from this.’

When asked if he still talks to Spears, Asghari did not provide a clear answer, stating, ‘I always celebrate the past. It’s something that I like to celebrate. And when things get done with, I always will appreciate it for the rest of my life, and I wish her nothing but the best.’

‘I’m always going to respect her and I’m always going to support her wellbeing, and I truly believe that she can recover from this.’

The Toxic singer was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol last Wednesday, following her erratic highway driving captured in a chilling 911 dispatch recording.

Spears was later released and is scheduled to appear in court on May 4.

She had reportedly fired her sobriety coach just weeks earlier, while police were also called to her home a staggering 14 times over the past two years.

Hours after the arrest made headlines, Asghari was asked about the situation during an interview with Fox News.

He appeared to sidestep the drama, instead continuing to focus on the Iran war.

The fitness trainer appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored to discuss America’s war with his native country, Iran, just days after the pop star was arrested on suspicion of DUI

‘It was hard to believe and hard to see that someone in America was being oppressed,’ he said of Spears, adding that he will always support the singer’s ‘wellbeing’ and believes she can ‘recover from this’

The Toxic singer was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol last Wednesday, following her erratic highway driving. Spears was later released and is scheduled to appear in court on May 4

‘You know, my focus has been on the Iran situation because this was such a huge situation that deserved my full attention,’ Asghari began.

‘As it goes in my past… I cannot skip the past, I celebrate the past… and I think everybody makes mistakes and everybody deserves privacy.’

He concluded, ‘I’d like to stay focused on the situation because it is bigger than everything right now… And I am fully responsible to be focused on that.’

Asghari was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1994, before moving to the United States at the age of 13.

He first crossed paths with Spears in 2016, while appearing in the music video for her track Slumber Party.

They began dating while she was under a strictly controlled court-ordered conservatorship – originally sparked by her public mental health struggles in 2008 – which wasn’t officially terminated until November 2021. After regaining her freedom, Spears tied the knot with Asghari seven months later in June 2022. 

But just over a year later, Asghari filed for divorce, citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’

The pair eventually reached a settlement in May 2024 and finalized their divorce in December of that year.

Jason Alexander, Spears’s first husband, who was famously married to her for only 55 hours before their 2004 annulment, also broke his silence on Thursday with a lengthy Instagram message.

Asghari and Spears began dating while she was under a conservatorship. After regaining her freedom, Spears tied the knot with Asghari seven months later in June 2022. But just over a year later, Asghari filed for divorce, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’; They are seen in 2018

Her other ex-husband, Kevin Federline, 47, said he wants the ‘best’ for Spears as he recently broke his silence on her arrest; They are seen in 2004

‘Everyone needs to slow down with the headlines about Britney Spears. If reports are accurate that she blew a .06, that is below the legal limit in most states. If the only substances in her system were legally prescribed medications, that changes the narrative completely,’ he wrote.

‘At most, what is being discussed right now could potentially amount to minor misdemeanor charges – things like reckless driving or simple possession if a substance was found in the car. But the internet has already jumped straight to “drunk driving,” “rehab,” and all kinds of speculation that hasn’t been proven.’

‘Britney Spears deserves the same thing anyone else does: facts, fairness, and due process.’

Spears was also married to Kevin Federline, 47, from 2004 to 2007, and they have two sons, Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19.

Following her arrest, Federline’s attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told TMZ his client ‘hopes’ Spears will be receptive to receiving help – if that is what’s found to be in her best interest.

‘Kevin hopes for the best for Britney and if help is necessary, he hopes that she will neither resist it or those who are attempting to work with her,’ Kaplan told the outlet.