Pop star Britney Spears filed for divorce from dancer and aspiring rapper Kevin Federline in Los Angeles on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences. The split came less than two months after the birth of their second child and ended years of tabloid speculation about the couple's troubled relationship.
Spears, 24, is seeking custody of both children. According to sources cited by TMZ.com, a solid prenuptial agreement is expected to shield the singer, whose fortune was estimated at over $120 million in a 2004 Forbes survey, from a costly settlement.
She has hired celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser, who has previously represented Angelina Jolie and Kiefer Sutherland. The announcement came just one day after Spears appeared in good spirits on "The Late Show with David Letterman," giving no indication of what was to come.
One of the best-selling female artists in US history, Spears rose to global fame in the late 1990s and has sold more than 76 million records worldwide, according to Time magazine. Her personal life, however, has long overshadowed her musical career, including a 55-hour Las Vegas marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander in January 2004, and persistent media scrutiny of her relationship with Federline since their 2004 wedding.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.