Now, it’s really no secret that I am not the biggest fan of Kevin Federline. From the moment he entered Britney Spears‘s life, I considered him a terrible influence on her and very suspiciously watched him weasel his way deep into her life. I was never impressed with the way he treated her (or her money) and I have been less impressed with his behavior since the pair split. I am willing to give him marginal credit for stepping in to care for his children when Britney couldn’t but, in my mind, parents shouldn’t get “extra credit” merely because they are caring for their children no matter the circumstances — parents are parents always, period. I am giving this preface before I pass along some comments made by K-Fed in a new interview because I find them highly suspicious … in this new interview, he explains that “depression” is what led to the obesity he suffered last year which, coincidentally, occurred right before he scored a role on the VH1 reality TV series Celebrity Fit Club:
For Kevin Federline, the very public struggles came with a private pain, as his 2006 divorce from Britney Spears triggered depression and overeating. “Once you get depressed, you don’t really feel like doing anything,” Federline, 31, tells Access Hollywood. “You’re kind of discouraged about yourself and then the weight gain too, or that makes me more depressed. … I mean, it’s a combination of all of those things.” The difference for Federline was that his troubles played out on a public stage. “Everybody knows what happened with me and Brit,” he says. “I’m not going to say that’s the total cause of it but, I mean, just not being happy with myself was probably the main part of my depression.” Now slimmed down thanks to his work on VH1′s Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp, Federline says his life is turning around, and that he now can be friends with Spears, 28, with whom he has two boys. “I think as time goes on, it keeps getting better and better and better,” he tells Access Hollywood. “I mean, I’m really happy the way that my life is going right now, I really am. I think, you know, I have come a long way. All of us have…my whole family. It’s gotten so much better from where we were.”
You’ll have to pardon my pessimism but I don’t really take these comments at face value. Spederline split up back in 2006 but it wasn’t until 2009 that he started to put on this massive weight. He was already with current girlfriend Victoria Prince and he had already been enjoying large sums of alimony from his divorce from Spears (traveling the world on her dime for free). I’m not sure where the depression comes in. Federline put the weight on very fast (in a matter of months, rather than over a span of years) and as soon as he reached maximum density, he signed on to appear on a competitive reality TV program so that he could lose the weight. His comments do not jibe with me. Now, of course there could be some level of depression and I’m even willing to admit that his comments are 100% true BUT, based on the way he has been living his life in the public eye and the suspicious way he gained all of this “depression weight”, I’m not willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Naturally, there may be some who do not agree with me … and that’s fine. Also, my comments have no bearing on people who suffer from genuine bouts of depression. I just find this interview dubious at best. For the sake of his children, who undoubtedly love their father, I hope Kevin Federline takes better care of his health in the future so that they can grow up with both parents in their lives.
[Photo credit: Mavrix; Source]
MOTM, if he gained that massive amount of weight that quickly on an SSRI, he wasn’t taking medication management seriously. I’ve been on several different SSRIs before finding one that worked and I had to see my doctor and/or psychiatrist monthly. Getting weighed was always done; if I fluctuated more than 5lbs either way, medication was changed.
Not buying the SSRI excuse.
I don’t think he exploited her at all. She is the one who exploited him for Chaotic. She is the one who put him in her video. She put him on the cover of People when they got engaged. She put him on the cover of People when they got married. She used him as a prop to sell herself. She uses her children as a prop to sell herself. While he might not be a wonderful person, he did not exploit her. If he had written a tell all book or something, I could see where you could say that. But he has been very respectful of her, especially when she was in rehab (bringing kids to see her, etc.). It is kind of like Levi Johnston. If he is such a horrible person, why did you use him to promote yourself?
I have to put my 2cents in here. First of all, aren’t we all giving K-Fed a LEETLE too much credit for thinking that far ahead by planning to get fat just to score a spot on a reality show. I think at the end of the day he is A. A lazy GIT who, after his divorce sat on his ass all day doing nothing and B. is an attention whore who now sees his gorgeous ex wife doing well, so he had find a way to get some attention hisownself. At the end of the day, the guy is just gross. ick
Just… Ick. I can’t stand either one of them – in Britney’s case it’s her “music” – not my taste at all but I feel for her as a human. That guy disgusts me. I’d be embarassed to be seen anywhere with him but I guss she’s into the trashy, ghetto fabulous thing. Or was at one time anyway.
Thanks Suzilee for bringing that up. I can totally see why he would be depressed. Getting divoriced, and then watching your childrens mother spiral out of control? Listening to their kids ask “where’s mommy? Why can’t I see mommy today”? It all has to be very trying, especially when the mother in question is as famous as Britney is. And while he was being a dad to Sean and jayden, along with his other kids, he also has to deal with everyone talking crap about him.
And for everyone saying he doesn’t have a real job and all that, what do you think celebrity fit club is? It’s a job. He’s getting paid to do a tv show. A JOB.
I can’t believe some of the ‘haters’ here and I’m sure nothing Kevin would do would change your minds about him. Thankfully he doesn’t have to justify himself for anyone. None of us have any idea what goes on in his life daily, out of the glare of the media or whatnot. So maybe we shouldn’t judge, or at least have a little compassion for other people.
Sorry for any mistakes, it’s late and I’m tired.
@Shelly — I still don’t buy the depression story. Why was he not depressed/overeating back in 2006 when they split up? Why did his depression/overeating just happen over a few month span last year, right before he signed on to do a reality TV series about being fat? Yes, he finally got a real job … does he deserve a medal because of that? No. I just don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth.
No talent celeb wannabee. Next.
Well said Trent. @danielle- you clearly don’t know what you’re saying. get your facts straight and not label Britney like that.
Umm. No. That wasn’t what led to him getting fat. The fact that he was a backup dancer and burned A LOT of caloried doing that allowed him to eat whatever he wanted and stay in shape. He started getting bajillions of dollars a month from Britney in spousal and child support, started hardly moving, and continued eating crap.
@danielle – Danielle, don’t listen to these people. Yes, Kevin Federline is a bum and is trying to gain back any glimpse of the spotlight that he can glean from this situation. However, I don’t understand in the least why everyone on this post is protecting Brittany as if she’s some innocent person who is a victim. So basically, you guys are all saying K-fed MADE Brittany shave her head…K-fed MADE Brittany go crazy with an umbrella…K-fed MADE Brittany hang out with Paris Hilton and flash the world…Oh wait, he didn’t? That’s what I thought.
@Ty — “you guys are all saying K-fed MADE Brittany shave her head…K-fed MADE Brittany go crazy with an umbrella…K-fed MADE Brittany hang out with Paris Hilton and flash the world” — I have never, ever contended that that was the case. BUT he is the man who has exploited his famous children for financial gain for years and has been living high off the proverbial hog in the wake of his divorce from Britney. THAT is my issue with him.
@ It’s Trent – You are completely right. I mistakenly made it sound in my post as if I felt K-fed is undeserved of being chastised by the media. He is definitely white trash and is painfully obvious with his desperate need for attention. The fact that he cares more about his own fame at the cost of exploiting his kids to a rough life is despicable. I just get defensive when I read comments by some people that want to blame it all on K-fed when Brittany is just as much to blame for the downfall of that family.