Pop icon Britney Spears has publicly criticised her family after they allegedly excluded her from their Christmas Day celebrations, posting a sarcastic message on Instagram that has reignited discussion about their long-running estrangement.
A Sarcastic Festive Greeting
On December 29, 2025, the 'Toxic' singer took to Instagram with a pointed and ironic holiday message. 'Merry late Christmas to my beautiful family who have never disrespected me, harmed me, ever done anything completely unacceptable or caused unbelievable trauma, the kind you can’t fix,' she wrote. The post continued, 'To my dear sweet innocent family … so so sorry I was busy this Christmas but I will definitely show up and surprise you soon … I can’t wait ….'
Spears, 43, then directly addressed her seven-year-old niece, Ivey Watson: 'Hello, beautiful Ivy … I just want to hold you, my love.' This public call-out appears to be a direct response to a festive photo shared by her younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears. That image showed Jamie Lynn with her husband Jamie Watson, their daughters Maddie (17) and Ivey (7), their mother Lynne Spears, and notably, Britney's eldest son, 20-year-old Sean Preston Federline.
Family Dynamics and Divided Holidays
According to reports, the holiday season saw the Spears family divided. While part of her family gathered together, Britney Spears reportedly spent Christmas with her younger son, 19-year-old Jayden James Federline. Her older son, Sean, was reportedly in Louisiana due to a work obligation, which led him to spend the festive period with his aunt, cousins, and grandmother.
The singer's complex family history is a significant backdrop to this latest incident. Spears has been estranged from much of her family for years, a situation that intensified following the termination of her controversial 13-year conservatorship in November 2021. She divorced Kevin Federline in 2006, and he was granted full custody of their two sons the following year.
A History of Public Feuds
This is not the first time Britney has used social media to confront her sister. In January 2022, she called out Jamie Lynn after the publication of her memoir, Things I Should Have Said, which became a bestseller. At the time, Britney accused her sister of lying about her knowledge of the abuses Britney suffered under the conservatorship.
'The timing of your book was unbelievable Jamie Lynn,' Britney stated on social media. She sarcastically added, 'Congrats best seller … I’m not surprised at all. The nerve of you to sell a book now and talk s**t but [you’re] f***ing lying.' This pattern of public airing of grievances highlights the deep and unresolved tensions within the Spears family, which continue to play out in the public eye, turning personal holiday gatherings into headlines.
