Music Blogs

When Britney Spears/her label/dad/children came up with the name for this month's comeback album, was the pop world meant to take it on face value, wonders Famethrowa? Are we to assume that her life is like a totally insane metaphorical menagerie 24-7 down on Santa Monica Boulevard? Or that she actually lives in a circus, complete with animals, acrobats and a strongman? This pressing question has become all the more overwhelming with the outraged reaction from an animal rights group to the release of her new video this week.

The promo to the title track and second single from "Circus" has caused a right old rumpus at PETA, who are known to strike down with great vengeance and furious anger anyone that dare cross their no-fur zone. The organisation's Christine Doré yesterday posted a lengthy diatribe against Spears after clocking a pair of elephants in the clip, calling the singer "an outrageous and toxic mess" and a "victim of the paparazzi", who "of all people should be able to relate to the horror that captive animals go through when they're used for entertainment."

"Except Britney chooses to perform, and the lifestyle just comes with it", continued Doré. "Animals are ripped away from their mothers at a young age, kept in chains, and prodded with electric shock devices to make them perform". Britney has kept her trunk shut on the subject but Gari and Kari Johnson, owners of California-based Have Trunk Will Travel, insist their animals were well treated on the shoot under the watchful eye of the American Humane Association. "Britney, the director, producers and the entire crew were respectful of the elephants' needs and comfort and a pleasure to work with", insisted the Johnson's. Well they would say that, is probably PETA's reaction.