Does Britney deserve the fallout?

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Sep 11th 2007 10:00AM

Categories: Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

When it comes to Britney Spears, I fall into the category of women who feel sorry for her. Her behavior is bizarre, for sure, but her life has been bizarre up to this point, and I think that people who can hold up under that kind of pressure are extraordinary. Not that she shouldn't be held accountable for car seat mishaps and transgressions against cars with an umbrella, it's just not that much fun to make fun of her, if you know what I mean.

So I wasn't one of those millions of people waiting to catch her comeback at the VMA's, but I did hear the fallout that came later and then caught her act on YouTube. Yes, she looked lethargic. Yes, she was definitely not the Britney of yesteryear. Yes, it appears she put little to no effort into her "comeback." But fat? The debate goes on. I understand that if you want to be a superstar, you have to earn it, but she's had two kids in two years time. She's earned that "paunch."

Britney doesn't qualify as "fit" in my book, but not for the paunch that does or does not qualify her as fat, but because of the not-quite-in-control lifestyle she leads. What will young America think when they read us (as adults) pointing our finger at a fairly in shape young mother and putting up headlines that scream "Lard and Clear"? Go ahead and judge her on her talent, but let's not perpetuate the impossible standard that only perfect bodies deserve attention. What do you think?

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Comments (66)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Andrew 9-11-2007 @ 11:00AM

It's really too bad that her performance was so "lethargic". She is, after all, one of the best dancers in the industry, as far as pop stars go. I personally agree that she doesn't look "fit", but she still looks great. Hopefully she can get her act together and make a comeback on tour, which will get her back in shape for sure. Hopefully this time she'll remember her underwear.

James 9-11-2007 @ 1:01PM

She lives in Hollywood land. You have to be perfect no matter how many kids you have. I could sit here and name off at least a dozen actresses who've had kids yet still have perfect bodies. The standards are different for her than the rest of society. Remember these people get paid to have perfect bodies: if you were paid millions to loose your tummy would you do it?

So yes, in Hollywood land, even after having 2 kids, she's considered "fat".

Brooke 9-14-2007 @ 6:49AM

i really think people need to worry about their own problems...no one is perfect..everyone gets angry..has bad days..and crys once in awhile...what do we make is look like britney is such a bad person..i really dont understand it...you have people on you 24-7 taking pictures of you when you just want a little peace..you cant tell me you wouldnt get upset...all think talk about brit is just rediculous..when everyone has hard times in their life..
no the vmas wasnt the britney we all know..but cmon cant we give her some credit for going out there and doing it??...why is everyone against her..we arent perfect..no one is..not even britney...so why are we picking apart all of her flaws..we have our own

Laura 9-14-2007 @ 6:59AM

I am so happy someone posted something positive regarding Britney like Bethany did. I agree completely with her on all levels and comments. Way to go Bethany! I couldn't have said it any better. I hope to see more positive remarks like this in the future. They are much more realistic and fun to read.

Kelly 9-14-2007 @ 8:04AM

Britney looks fine, I have two kids, too and would trade figures with her. HOWEVER, she should have chosen a different outfit and noone would have noticed the belly. Also, she should have practiced and given a sharp performance. Different outfit and some practice and none of this would be an issue. She obviously wants the attention.

Dane Brecher 9-14-2007 @ 8:18AM

You guys every think the reason why she was so lethargic was because no one wants to see her love handles jiggle? Is she "FAT"? no way. Just spend an hour at any fast food restaurant and the "LARD ASS" who can't fit in the both is "FAT". Kinda pathetic though, many are waking up everyday and going to their 9-5's and they still manage to make it to the gym. It's her job to be in shape and look good. The fact is if she went out and hired a personal trainer and a full time chief she could have lost the baby weight and looked the part of a "POP STAR". Who the hell allowed her to go on stage wearing what she did that person should be fired. Britney needs to decide if she still wants to continue in the industry or consider retirement. Apparently she doesn't have the same drive or isn't "HUNGRY" for success. lol

JJ 9-14-2007 @ 8:37AM

Belly??? Are you people serious. She looks normal!! Everyone needs to get a life and leave the poor girl alone! I never usually post on these things I am more of a reader but I am so over the Britney bashing. How the heck would all of you act if everything you did was under scrutiny and the entire NATION had something to say about it. There are far worse mothers that make bigger mistakes than she has, and farrrr "fatter" women in fact Im sure 95% of you people are. Britney has accomplished things many of us never will and done it will excellenece. So what if she is in a bad season let it go and GET A LIFE!!!

acefondu 9-14-2007 @ 8:50AM

She shouldn't have worn that outfit to begin with if your debate is about whether she's fat or not. There are more ways to be sexy than showing off excess skin.

tyraries 9-14-2007 @ 8:52AM

Ok i get she has had kids and thats why she is paunchy, but the fact is the girl cant sing at all. Has anyone seen her actually sing and not lipsync. Britney has no real talent except that she very commercial and thats almost not a talent. In conclusion I have never really liked her yes she had some catchy songs but none of this is relevent because the girl cant sing....

Brown 9-14-2007 @ 8:55AM

I am not a fan of Brittany. At ALL However she is not fat. I am not fat and I have a bigger baby paunch than she does. Her performance sucked. That should be what everyone is talking about, NOT her weight.

Jadebriar 9-14-2007 @ 9:08AM

Has anyone noticed that the negative comments posted to reply to Bethany's very accurate assessment of the situation are from men? Wake up boys - Brittany is by no means fat. She is probably a size 4 to 6 which would make her thin in America where most women are size 12 to 14! I agree she could have made a better wardrobe decision and that her performance was lacking- but that is what she should be judged by- not her figure! We ladies know that sexy comes in all sizes and aren't the boys just lucky that we don't judge by the cover or most of them would be doomed to be single forever.

Sin 9-14-2007 @ 9:04AM

Lets see Brit is a 24 yr old young mother with 2young kids and she's being seen as fat? Yes her performance was blah but she still looks good for having 2 kids and going through all the troubles she's had of late. What would've been better was for her to step back and really reinvent herself and try a different approach to music. She may not have the strongest voice but if she went the route of ex mickey mouse clubbers Justin And Christina and add a bit more variety maybe people will stop thinking of her first album and actually take her seriously. I'm pretty sure even Justin makes fun of imself about what he looked like and songs he sang with N'Sync in the early years. LOL

Myra 9-14-2007 @ 9:18AM

I think Britney looks great even though she had 2 kids. Her wardrobe might not be the highlight of the day either but I think she looks all right. Her performance might be embarrassing but I think she is trying her best. I believe if everyone gives her some space she might not feel so pressured and try to get her life back.

Shanna 9-14-2007 @ 9:26AM

I want to start off by saying I am one of the biggest Britney Spears fans, but I was slightly dissappointed with her VMA performance. I also want to say though, that I feel like MTV only had her perform at the VMA's for ratings. They knew that she was not properly perpared, and that her performance was nothing compared to what it could have been. I am very upset that MTV did not have Britney's comeback at heart, they just used her for ratings.

Jenny 9-19-2007 @ 12:37AM

I agree that she is not fat but she does not have the body for holloywood to being wearing what she wore for that kind of event. I wouldnt mind having her body...but she could have chosen a more suitable outfit that that. She could have still have the sexy look without being so trashy. Thats the perfect way to describe her...TRASHY!!! And for feeling sorry for her...I dont...she brought it all on herself! She has 2 kids....she shouldnt be thinking about herself at this point...it should be about them if she really loved them as she says she does. Plus she alienated all the people who are trying to help her....for trying to help her! GET OVER IT BRIT!! Your mom should try and be civilized with K-Fed...he is the father of her grand children.

Stacy 10-01-2008 @ 1:12PM

I agree that Britney has her own issues, but she also has children that look up to her and they see what she does. I do agree that she looks great having 2 kids, but the fact is even if I did look like her, I wouldnt have worn what she did on a HUGE TV event.

finn 9-14-2007 @ 9:57AM

Its about her decisions, not her physique or her talent. She chose to expose herself in that outfit, just like she made every other choice that led her there. I think what her fans are really having a hard time with is that she started out as 19, skinny and superficially sexy, which clearly has changed for her based on the choices she's made (becoming a mother, continuing to lead a questionable, hedonistic lifestyle, shaving her head, et al).

So she had/has the choice to grow up, show some class and maturity and become a good role model, not for her fans alone, but for her children.

Instead she gets on stage, ignores everyone's advice and embarrasses herself trying to act as if she's still that superficial 19 year old pop star and all her self-destructive behavior over the last few years hasnt caught up with her. An ignorant, delusional 'has-been' still living in the glory days of her past instead of moving forward is pretty tragic, no?

As for you, isnt it a bit hypocritical to judge the superficial people judging the superficial performer about superficial things? Kind of a vicious cycle, eh?

Tyler 9-15-2007 @ 4:02PM

I seriously think everyone should leave her alone! She is trying her best to get her life back on track and everyone keeps making her look like a dog! Everyone messes up as a first time mom and she never got a chance to figure it out before she had her second one. I think for the most part shes a good mother she just gets cault up in the bad moments because the media isnt worried about what she is doing right but only what she is doing wrong. Also about her VMA performance all I have to say if u believe that any artist hasnt done what she did then ur just plain dumb the only reason we make such a big deal over it this time because its brittney we need to grow up and leave her alone its sad a pathetic... How would u feel if people were putting u under a microscope and watchin for ur mistakes and punishing u in the worse way they could by talkin shit about u. Regardless of anybodies opinion she is still a humen and she makes mistakes kevin should take his money and shove it up his ass he only wants them kids because of the money and fame why doesnt he want shars kids??? does this make any since... Its bullshit yes I agree britney needs to give it up just because I think if she just gets away from hollywood and stops doing crazy shit then everything will be all well. She was just trying to get her life back after what kevin took from her and everyone trashed her. People should be ashamed and they suck for doing this to her.... Grow the fuck up if this was a normal everyday person it wouldnt matter as much why do we take stars lives and pick them apart??? How is everyone gonna feel when she loses her kids to KEVIN and britney doesnt think she has anything else to live for and she ends up one of those E true hollywood stories as a girl loved missed and couldnt take it anymore and commited suicide how fucked up are we is this what we want to see happen.. If so u r fuckin morbid!!! Just leave the poor women alone

Tabatha 9-14-2007 @ 10:29AM

Its unfair to call her fat, I completely agree with that. She has done some really crazy things in the past few months, I'm sure eventually it'll all catch up to her and she'll realize how stupid she has been... and maybe take a few AA classes while she is out there... but I agree nonetheless that it is unfair even for those living the hollywood life to call her fat. She did have two kids close together, it takes months for you r uterus to shrink down to normal size after giving birth and all the weight you put on has to be lost seperately...its not easy to lose that weight at all...

and the topping to the cake..how many magazines do I pick up that complain about actresses/models being "TOO SKINNY!" and here we are calling someone who really isn't "fat" in my book a lardass in terms... I've always thought of someone weighing over 200lbs as a "lardass" not someone who is probably less than my pregnant-self.

Welcome to America, where if you weight under 100 pounds your anorexic and we'll ride you for it.. but gain a little weight and hit 150 and you're going to burn at the stake.. Land of the free?

Ashley 9-15-2007 @ 12:22PM

I feel bad for her too, and I'm someone who's always hated her. It's not good form to pick on someone when they're already down in the slums. I'm not really sure what's going on in her head right now, but she needs to stop digging a deeper hole for herself. I'd hate to be in her position, a lot of famous people have commited suicide over the pressure. The fact that she has millions isnt going to keep her from being totally humiliated.