Britney Spears - Pray for her

It seems MTV is the only one who is willing to cheer for poor Britney these days. While critics panned the recent performance at the awards show, MTV and company have ensured that the video is only available online through them, with their commentary. Bloggers cannot post it, and videos previously posted on YouTube have disappeared, likely due to legal threats.

The back story you know: Britney Spears’ performance at MTV’s Video Music Awards was billed as a make-or-break comeback, and it broke. The Web gossips say that rather than cramming for the show — whatever that would mean — Spears spent the pre-VMA weekend partying with celebs in Vegas. Come concert time she lethargically lip-synced through her single “Gimme More,” bringing about as much enthusiasm to the gig as she does to mothering.

But you want proof. You want to watch the video. And so, naturally, you consult YouTube. And hey, look, someone’s uploaded it.

But wait: Click on the several VMA clips that come up when you search for Spears and you find they’re gone. “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Viacom International Inc.,” YouTube tells you.

Huh. Viacom is MTV’s corporate parent and a YouTube archrival. The company has sued Google, YouTube’s parent, seeking remuneration for the many Viacom videos people have watched on YouTube. So it’s understandable the company would quickly pull down its wares from YouTube — and, as this search shows, it’s completely ridiculous, because rather than helping you watch its videos, Viacom is standing in your way.

So after YouTube, you do a Google search for britney spears vma video. And again you find nothing. Of the top 10 links that come up, there are a couple of Spears fan sites and several blog and news reports panning the performance, but no links to the video.

But wait. Look to the right side of the page in the “sponsored link” section — yes, that section you never look at. Right there is a link to MTV. The tag says “Watch Clips From Brit’s VMA Performance — Only on MTV.com!” Click it and you get to this site, MTV’s Buzzworthy blog, which — aha! — includes the VMA video. Finally.

Interesting? You bet, read more here: http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2007/09/11/spears_viacom/

Ok, so a year ago there were highs and lows for Britney Spears. Jayden James, her son, was born. She filed for divorce from Kevin Federline (K-Fed, Fed-Ex). She was later quoted as going with her “new found freedom a bit too far.” This quote was from her very own website, http://britneyspears.com last December (2006). It was contained in an online letter to her fans, where Britney further expounded that she was only looking for a good time after the split: “It’s been so long since I’ve been out on the town with friends.” ( No, she just brought the town into her home… )

Then comes Paris Hilton, socialite and fashion extraordinaire according to some sources. (Others may say she’d be better off studying gardening at a community college.)

Paris Hilton and Britney Spears joined ditz forces in Las Vegas, back in November of 2006. The pair was scarcely seen apart for about three weeks and partied it up at some of the trendiest locations in Los Angeles. As December arrived, Paris Hilton was no longer in the public scene with Britney. This led many members of the public (who are in a lower class on the social hierarchy) to question how, why, or if the Hilton / Spears relationship ended (some members of this lower social tier - the common folk - even questioned if they had something to do with this and if they had jeopardized Britney’s comeback by not rooting for her enough during the previous ditz team-up).

Due to the consecutive events that occurred after the newly rediscovered freedom of being “out on the town with friends” of Britney, many of her fans decided that Paris Hilton was to blame. Paris was a bad influence and should have known better than to cause Britney’s public image to incur more blemishes.

So now Paris wants to set the record straight at BreatheHeavy.com

Miss Paris Hilton wants both Britney and her fans to be aware that she is there for her friend Britney, supports her fully, and that she will continue to do so. The pair have been and still are on good terms.

“Jeff” (this is an alias), a mutal friend of the ditzy duo, told BreatheHeavy.com that the ditzy duo remain close:
“In my expert opinion of statically ditzy duos, in the instant case, the two have always been friends, there’s been no bad blue blood between them, Paris has been nothing but loyal to Britney since day one of joining ditzy forces, and Britney adores Paris to death, and Paris is happy to receive her monthly compensatory check from Britney for support services rendered, err strike that last bit, BreatheHeavy.”
Apparently Paris confirmed that “Jeff’s” statement to BreateHeavy was true.

A sighting of Paris and Britney took place at Club Opera just several days ago. This would be the first time in over nine months that the pair have been seen in public. Will we see more of the statically stupid stars? Only time will tell, but until then… here’s to new dresses, new media “shocks”, dumber gawking fans, and higher priced paparazzi photos.