Britney Spears' sister and ex-husband speak out after her arrest

Britney Spears' inner circle are speaking out after the singer's arrest for driving under the influence earlier this week.

Her younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, shared a social media post just hours before the arrest, while her ex-husband, Sam Asghari, has also addressed the situation publicly.

Jamie Lynn shared a photo from the set of her Netflix series Sweet Magnolias, where she is hugging the two young actors who play her character's daughters.

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"I think we could all use a big hug right now, especially from the 2 sweetest & cutest TV daughters to ever exist," she wrote.

The poignant message was shared only hours before Britney was pulled over by California Highway Patrol in Ventura County at 9.30pm Wednesday night (4.30pm Thursday AEDT).

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The 44-year-old was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and spent the night in jail, according to the arrest record seen by nine.com.au. TMZ reported the pop star was "crying a lot" during processing.

The hitmaker's ex-husband, Sam Asghari, also weighed in on the situation. 

​Asghari, who was married to the singer from June 2022 until their split in August 2023, was asked about the arrest during a recent television appearance.

​"My focus has been on the Iran situation," he said, referencing current tensions.

"But as it goes for the past, I cannot skip the past. I think everybody makes mistakes and everybody deserves privacy."

The 32-year-old actor added that public scrutiny can be damaging for someone trying to move on.

"If we learn from history, we have to understand the press could hurt somebody recovering from a situation like this," he said.

Britney's friend and former assistant, Sean Phillip, also claimed the singer said she was "OK" in a series of texts exchanged after the arrest.https://x.com/GMB/status/2029822284366582224

In a statement following the incident, a representative for Britney said the arrest was "an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable".

"Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney's life," the representative told CNN.

"Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time."

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The representative said her sons, Jayden and Sean, would be helping the singer through this time, having just rekindled their relationship at the end of last year after a period of estrangement.

"Her boys are going to be spending time with her," they said. "Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well being."

The Oops I Did It Again singer is expected to face the county court on May 4.

The arrest comes several years after the end of Britney's controversial conservatorship, which controlled her personal and financial affairs for 13 years until it was terminated by a court in November 2021.

Despite the legal trouble, Britney had recently hinted at possible touring plans in the UK and Australia in a social media post earlier this year.

"But I hope to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair, in a bun, performing with my son… in the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon," she wrote in the January post.

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