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Sam Asghari, the 31-year-old Iranian-American model and actor, reflected on his six-year relationship with pop star Britney Spears. He recalled working towards an acting career, with casting agents referring to him as "cheesy" and "associated with a pop star".
The former couple began dating in 2017 and got married in 2022. In August 2023, the former couple separated after 14 months of marriage. Less than a year later, their divorce was finalized after they reached a settlement in May 2024.
Asghari's Experience
Asghari said, "I can't sit here and lie and say, 'It wasn't good for me.'" He added, "When you're in such a public relationship... it sort of gave me that platform for who I am."
The pair met when Asghari was cast as Spears' love interest in her 2016 music video for "Slumber Party". According to Asghari, their relationship came early in his career, allowing for more opportunities. "I just started acting at that moment, so I was already doing stuff anyway," he said.
However, with more eyes on him than ever, Asghari said he "absolutely" had "to work harder to prove myself." He added that casting agents sometimes looked down on him, referring to him as "a cheesy trainer," making his public love life a double-edged sword.
Asghari also shared that people would ask, "Can we see him as a character?" and said that he had to work harder to prove himself" in the acting industry.
After the Divorce
One day after filing for divorce from Spears, Asghari broke his silence in a statement on Instagram. He wrote, "AFTER 6 YEARS OF LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER MY WIFE AND I HAVE DECIDED TO END OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER. WE WILL HOLD ONTO THE LOVE AND RESPECT WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER AND I WISH HER THE BEST ALWAYS."
He later spoke to PEOPLE about his relationship with Spears, still echoing his previous sentiment for wishing her well. "It was a blessing to be able to share life with someone for a long time. And people grow apart and people move on," he told PEOPLE exclusively in March 2024.
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