Spears' success has rested on a mixed fanbase. Millions of girls became enthusiasts for her work, adopting her as an idol. It also appears that many young adult males are also fans. Spears also has a significant gay male fanbase. Writers on popular music for the mainstream press, however, have generally been dismissive of Spears' music, considering it to be commercial and shallow.
Some parents of young daughters have ambivalent or even negative feelings towards Britney Spears. To many critics, the singer has combined a very raunchy public image with a major marketing "play" for the hearts, minds and pockets of prepubescent girls, often as young as seven or eight. The sexualization of such girls is arguably a trend that is visible elsewhere in popular culture, for example in the film and fashion industries.
Some parents take the view that their daughters deserve a chance to participate fully and happily in the pleasures of childhood before being led into an early emotional adolescence. There is also an open question as to whether young children are ready for the often complicated feelings that come with sexual maturity. Some parents may worry that Britney Spears provides an unrealistic role model for their daughters' life and career plans.
In October 2003, Maryland First Lady Kendel Ehrlich, the wife of Governor Robert Ehrlich, was criticized for saying that she would like to "shoot Britney Spears" in an address to a domestic violence conference. After her comments made national headlines, she was forced to apologize.
The sexual iconography of Britney Spears once again became a topic of debate as a result of her 2003 semi-nude photo spread for the men's magazine, Esquire. Prompted by this, Playboy reportedly offered the star over a million dollars to pose nude for their magazine. Spears has publicly declined the offer. http://extratv.warnerbros.com/dailynews/extra/0404/04_19e.html
The 2004 "Onyx Hotel" tour brought new criticism. Spears and her on-stage dancers, while nearly nude, performed explicit routines simulating gay sex, orgies, and masturbation. Given that many underage fans were in the audience there was some outrage at the raunchiness of the performances, and there were reports of adult chaperones angrily storming out with children they brought to the concert. It has been said that the tickets should have orginally come with a warning on them to caution parents.
While young girls seldom address this debate in the same terms as their parents, many are divided on whether they consider Britney Spears appealing, especially in the light of more recent developments in her career.
For her part, Spears has responded to their concerns by stating that she is "not their babysitter. It's the parents' responsibility. If you don't like it, turn the T.V. off. The only person I want to be a role model is to my sister, Jamie Lynn." (From ABC's Primetime interview with Diane Sawyer).
The criticisms leveled against Spears are similar to those Madonna received at the start of her career. Indeed, Madonna's early fans belonged to a similar demographic to Spears' current fanbase. Spears' show-stealing kiss with Madonna received much media attention, as have her recent marriages. Her provocative image and seemingly down-to-earth personality have contributed greatly to her success.
In common with a number of other popular female figures in show business, Britney Spears' private life has attracted considerable media attention. Indeed, some people feel that she has courted it by cultivating, in her early years at least, a chaste, God-fearing and "wholesome" image somewhat at odds not only with the traditional pressures, temptations and opportunities of "pop 'n' roll" but with the increasingly sexualized content of her own songs. Regardless of where the responsibility for the gossip industry surrounding the pop star lies, Spears' public response has been to repeatedly express regret and resentment at the intrusive media coverage.
Xenite.Org has now expanded and redesigned its celebrity news resource section. Stay up to date with the latest headlines from around the world about your favorite celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Vida Guerra, Lindsay Lohan, and others. New pages have been added and we now feature slide shows from selected Flickr topics! Published: Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:49:30 GMT - Source: Celebrity-news.Xenite.Org - Read the article
Entertainment
Spears wants child-friendly home
Britney Spears is looking for a new home with extra space for her children and more privacy, court records reveal. Published: Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:10:08 GMT - Source: News.Bbc.Co.Uk - Read the article
Entertainment
Spears' sister 'has a baby girl'
Singer Britney Spears' actress sister, Jamie Lynn has given birth to a baby girl in a US hospital, reports say. Published: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:56:59 GMT - Source: News.Bbc.Co.Uk - Read the article
