Sam Asghari, the Iranian-American actor and former spouse of pop icon Britney Spears, has offered his perspective on the recent military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran. The 31-year-old celebrity, who was married to Spears for nearly two years, spoke candidly about the topic during an encounter with TMZ in Los Angeles over the weekend.
Asghari's Strong Stance on the Conflict
The daytime airstrike on Saturday, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders, prompted Asghari to voice his opinions. When questioned, he expressed profound gratitude towards America, stating, "I'm always grateful for America and I've always been a proud American - just because everything I have is because of America." He emphasized that he feels "even more proud to be an American" today and extended his thanks to "the soldiers and the military of the United States."
Criticism of the Iranian Regime
Asghari did not hold back in his criticism of the late Ayatollah Khamenei, describing his death as "well-deserved." He elaborated, "He deserved a lot more than death because he's caused so much chaos around the world, American casualties," as well as the deaths of Iranian civilians. Labeling the regime as "brutal," Asghari argued that it "had to go at any cost because they've caused so much chaos in the Middle East."
Despite his harsh words for the government, Asghari made a clear distinction between the Iranian people and their leaders. He stated, "The Iranian people are completely different from the government," and added, "Hopefully the Iranian people are able to get their freedom and get their country back." He expressed a desire for "less and less casualties of civilians" and reiterated that "nobody deserves death."
Advocacy for Peace and Previous Activism
The media personality also shared his hopes for a peaceful future, saying, "I hope to see a peaceful Middle East" and peace throughout the world. He explained, "War is absolutely not great and I want nothing but peace for this world." This sentiment aligns with his previous activism; last month in January, Asghari attended a pro-freedom rally in Los Angeles in support of Iran, sharing a clip on Instagram where he held a version of the Iranian flag used before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Background and Personal History
Born in Tehran, Iran in 1994, Asghari moved to the United States at age 13. He reflected on his upbringing, telling Men's Health in 2021, "I'm fortunate to have grown up between two extremely different cultures." He added, "We moved here to live here, to speak the language, to contribute to this country," and learned English in high school. His career includes roles such as in "Hacks," and he first met ex-wife Britney Spears in 2016 on the set of her "Slumber Party" music video.
The couple married in June 2022, but Asghari filed for divorce a year later citing "irreconcilable differences." They reached a settlement agreement in May 2024 and were officially divorced in December of that year. Meanwhile, Spears has remained active on social media, recently sharing a dancing clip on Instagram where she experienced a wardrobe malfunction while wearing a plunging lace bodysuit.
Asghari's comments highlight the complex interplay of personal identity, political views, and celebrity influence in global events, offering a unique perspective from someone with direct ties to both Iran and the United States.
