On Saturday, Britney Spears’ former husband, Sam Asghari, was spotted in Los Angeles with his new girlfriend. This appearance came just two days after Britney’s startling behavior on a private flight raised concerns about her well-being and led to police intervention.

The 43-year-old pop star, who gained her independence after the end of her conservatorship in 2021, was traveling from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to LAX with her security team on Thursday. During the flight, she reportedly started consuming alcohol and subsequently lit a cigarette, according to TMZ.

It was reported flight attendants were ‘alarmed and ordered her to put out the cigarette’ – with the singer complying.

Her behavior during the journey was described as ‘difficult.’ Upon the plane’s arrival, authorities were present, and she received a warning regarding her actions before being permitted to disembark.

A source later told People, ‘This is not her first warning. She doesn’t exactly follow the rules.’

Now Asghari, who was with Spears from 2016 until 2023 and married to her for 14 months, has been glimpsed with his current flame, ex-cheerleader Brooke Irvine.

He wore a clinging grey tank top that showed off his cloven-in-marble physique and rippling muscles, teamed with white trousers and a backwards baseball cap.

Meanwhile Irvine, a real estate agent who went public with Asghari on New Year’s Day 2025, flaunted her sculpted midriff in a white cutoff sweater. 

On Friday, Spears responded to the explosive scandal with a video of herself on the plane toasting the camera – accompanied by a bizarre caption in which she wrote that she ‘thought officials greeted me as support and I was like WOW I feel special !!!’ 

‘Me yesterday !!!’ she wrote alongside the clip of her on the plane before insisting the fracas was ‘actually incredibly funny’ and launching into a rambling explanation.

‘Some planes I’ve been on you can’t smoke mostly but this one was different because the drink holders were on outside of seat !!! Confession it was my first time drinking VODKA!!! I swear I felt so SMART !!!’ she exclaimed.

‘I was like wow what the heck is in there !!! I felt so clear and smart !!! And said I want a cigarette so bad !!! My friend put it in my mouth and lit it up for me so I was like OH SO THIS IS A PLANE WHERE YOU CAN SMOKE !!!’ she claimed.

‘I do so apologize to anyone I offended but the flight attendants always make sure I’m way at the back of plane anyways !!!’

She then sensationally wrote, possibly in jest: ‘I thought officials greeted me as support and I was like WOW I feel special !!!’

Spears then joked: ‘I’ve never been to an international airport !!! Am I famous or something ???’ with some crying laughing emoji sprinkled in.

‘The flight attendant called officials because I smoked a cigarette !!! And embarrass me which jeez I thought was kinda much but she didn’t like me the moment I got on plane !!! Nobody was on the plane for first 20 minutes and she wouldn’t let me get out of my seat I wanted to stand up !!!’ Spears insisted.

‘She acted so weird about making sure I sat down and it was weird !!! I didn’t like the way she put the seatbelt on me and invaded my space !!! Oh well you guys like my flower choker ??? B tiny is coming soon and thats something we have added !!! It’s honestly adorable !!!’

Spears followed up the statement with one of her trademark Instagram dance videos – this time including footage of her swigging from a bottle.

The clip was set to the classic Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee song Despacito, which was released in 2017 and famously remixed with Justin Bieber.

After the airplane incident took place on Thursday, a spokesman for air carrier and private plane service JSX told DailyMail.com in a statement: ‘We have no comment regarding the alleged events described.’ 

Smoking is strictly prohibited on all JSX flights, including private jets.

LAX police confirmed to the publication they did not respond – and ‘it appears someone from Customs may have issued the warning’ to Spears.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Britney Spears and LAX for further comment. 

Back in December 2024, Spears raised alarm bells when she was pictured bringing a grill lighter onto a private plane as she jetted off to celebrate her birthday.

It is not known why Spears — who previously burnt down her home gym in 2020, after an accident with two candles — was holding the lighter but she even kept the device over her mouth as she spoke with members of her entourage. 

Single, standard lighters – such as cigarette lighters – are generally allowed on private jets in carry-on luggage.

However torch lighters, or any other type with a large flame, such as the one carried by Spears, are usually not permitted onboard per TSA regulations.

Spears previously revealed she burned off her eyebrows and eyelashes after attempting to turn on the fireplace in her bedroom earlier in 2024. 

Spears’ latest drama comes after ex Sam Asghari took a cruel swipe at their marriage, while praising his new relationship.

He called their union ‘Hollywood,’ while also saying his four month long relationship with Brooke was ‘all about love,’ as the pair made their red carpet debut at the grand opening weekend of The Tryst hotel.

‘It’s all about love. That’s what it is,’ Asghari told Us Weekly on April 25, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

‘It’s not about the industry, it’s not about Hollywood,’ he continued.

‘It’s about what really is the most important thing, and that’s being present, being in the moment and supporting others that are doing this same thing.’ 

Sam was with the I Did It Again singer from 2016 to 2023.

Sam and Britney met on the set of her Slumber Party music video in October 2016 and the following month they sparked romance rumors with the personal trainer posted a photo (which he later deleted) on Instagram.

He is now in a relationship with Brooke Irvine.