Britney Spears’ fans are ‘concerned’ after boyfriend Sam Asghari pretends to choke the singer in new photo
BRITNEY Spears’ fans have slammed a photo of her boyfriend Sam Asghari pretending to choke her.
The 39-year-old singer’s followers were left “concerned” by the snap – which showed Sam, 26, jokingly putting his hands around her neck.
Fitness trainer Sam’s right hand was behind Britney‘s neck and his left hovered in the air around her chin.
Britney shared the photo on Instagram to celebrate her 39th birthday, writing, “Happy b-day to me,” alongside a slew of emojis.
While the couple – who began dating in 2016 – smiled in the shot, the Toxic hitmaker’s fans felt “uncomfortable” with Sam’s hand placement.
“I feel like this is a red flag,” one wrote, while another added: “Hands around your neck… this is horrifying.”
“Are you serious? He looks like he’s about to choke you! Run Brit! Happy birthday but run,” a third follower urged.
Britney – who has two sons, Sean, 15, and Jayden, 14, with ex Kevin Federline – met aspiring actor Sam in October 2016, when he played her love interest in her raunchy Slumber Party music video.
They went public with their relationship a year later and have been inseparable ever since.
The couple kicked off Britney’s early birthday celebrations last month by taking a private jet to Maui for a “magical” getaway.
They enjoyed cliff diving as well as romantic dinners at a luxurious resort, People.
Sam hit the headlines earlier this week when he fiercely defended Britney from a troll on her Instagram.
A user had written on one of the Slave 4 U singer’s posts: “This account finally got too scary for me.”
Sam shot back: “What’s so scary about being the biggest superstar in the world being herself (authentic, funny, humble) without caring what others think…
“We need more people like her and less Karen’s. also Instagram installed this button that you can hit to unfollow about 10 years ago…”
He has previously been credited with helping to ease Britney’s “anxiety” amid her legal battle with her father, Jamie.
“Britney is very anxious and is trying her best not to let her family and legal situation worsen her anxiety,” an insider told InTouch.
“She’s been really trying to use healthy tactics to counteract the anxiety. Sam has been helping Britney every step of the way and trying to keep her mind off of things. He’s a good influence in that sense.”
Britney has been locked in an ongoing battle in court to remove her father Jamie from her conservatorship.
Her attorney Samuel D. Ingham III recently said Britney would not perform again until Jamie was suspended.
He said: “My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father. She will not perform again if her father is in charge of her career,” Ingham told the judge.”
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Jamie has had full control over Britney’s financial and personal affairs since her public meltdown in 2008.
As the legal battle rages on, insiders claimed Britney has “not spoken to her dad in over a year.”
A source previously told People: “She feels like he has no respect for her wishes.”
Earlier this month, Britney’s business partner Bobby Ochs claimed Jamie was “unhinged” and “high” during an interaction they had.