Sam Asghari is stepping into the spotlight on his own terms.
The 31-year-old actor and fitness professional covers the latest issue of Playgirl, where he opens up about his past with Britney Spears while posing for a series of stripped-down, high-gloss shots photographed in Pasadena.
The magazine highlights Asghari’s new chapter in Hollywood, but also gives space to one of the few topics he rarely discusses publicly: his seven-year relationship with the pop icon.
When asked about Spears, he quoted an Iranian proverb often shared to illustrate loyalty — you shouldn’t speak poorly of someone you’ve shared a meal with.
“Whatever follows is irrelevant,” he said, emphasizing that honoring the bond they once had is his priority. “I always want to respect that. I’m always going to stick to that, and that’s the number one thing for me.”
Asghari and Spears first connected on the set of her “Slumber Party” video in 2016. They went public not long after, got engaged in 2021, and married in 2022 following the end of her conservatorship.
Their marriage lasted 14 months before they separated in August 2023; their divorce was finalized in May 2024. In the interview, Asghari noted that what actually happened between them privately is what matters most to him, adding that the healthiest way to move forward is to “celebrate the past” rather than dwell on its ending.
Even after the breakup, Asghari has continued to defend Spears when needed. After she described their marriage as feeling like “a fake distraction” in an August 2025 Instagram post, he issued a statement through his representative, saying, “Our marriage was very real to me… I was in love with her, will always have love for her, and wish her the best always.”
Now dating Brooke Irvine and expanding his acting career, Asghari told Playgirl he remains aware that his former relationship shaped public perception of him, which is a sentiment he's shared before.
Speaking to Page Six Radio earlier this year, he acknowledged that being linked to Spears brought visibility — and pressure. “I can’t sit here and lie and say, ‘It wasn’t good for me,’” he said. But the attention also meant he “absolutely” had to “work harder to prove myself.”
For Asghari, the next phase is about moving forward with clarity. “I’m still the person with the same enthusiasm, with the same positivity, with the same energy,” he said.