Top 10 Britney Spears Interviews We Look at Differently Since Reading Her Memoir
We'd say these interviews didn't age well, but they were never acceptable. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the interviews, questions, and segments that we’re reexamining since Britney Spears released her memoir “The Woman In Me.”
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00:00 you know, this impactful thing around me all the time.
00:03 And I just feel like the editors,
00:04 they don't realize that there's not just one magazine.
00:07 - Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:08 And today we're counting down our picks
00:10 for the interviews, questions, and segments
00:12 that we're re-examining since Britney Spears
00:14 released her memoir, "The Woman in Me."
00:17 - Well, that's really sad that she said that.
00:19 Ew.
00:20 - Number 10, was Britney censored here?
00:25 The Jonathan Ross Show.
00:27 In her memoir, Britney recalls a 2016 interview
00:30 where she tried to shed a little light on her situation
00:33 and how mysteriously that part never made it to air.
00:35 - I was just a mama's girl.
00:36 I loved food.
00:38 My dad owned a restaurant.
00:39 He was into construction building and just normal,
00:43 just a normal Southern, yeah.
00:45 - While she doesn't name the specific chat show,
00:48 some outlets have side-eyed the Jonathan Ross Show.
00:51 Reportedly, audience members vouched
00:53 that she had referenced her controlling conservatorship
00:55 and wanting to separate her creative vision for glory
00:58 from those restrictions.
00:59 Apparently, this lit a fire behind the scenes,
01:02 igniting a series of emergency meetings.
01:05 - There's parties all around.
01:06 - Wow.
01:07 So how do you, what do you do?
01:08 Do you go and join in or do you blank it out?
01:10 - I just don't go in there.
01:12 (audience laughing)
01:13 - Ultimately, the network conceded to edit out
01:15 that part of the interview.
01:17 There's a lot about this conversation
01:19 we hear differently now, but it's what we didn't hear
01:21 that reverberates that much louder.
01:23 - And you seem in a really good place right now.
01:25 Would that be a safe thing to say?
01:26 - Yes, sir.
01:27 - Okay, so you're pretty happy, pretty, that's good to know.
01:29 (audience cheering)
01:31 - Number nine, filling time on "Star Search," "Star Search."
01:35 When Britney was just 10 years old,
01:37 she competed on the talent show "Star Search."
01:40 Now, if you ask us, her rendition of "Love Can Build a Bridge"
01:43 is beyond phenomenal.
01:44 ♪ Keep believing in the power ♪
01:52 Her voice is so powerful
01:54 and her stage presence is incredibly compelling.
01:57 Surely it's only natural to ask her
01:59 about her outstanding performance skills, right?
02:01 Well, host Ed McMahon was more interested
02:03 in her quote, "adorable pretty eyes"
02:05 and whether she had a boyfriend.
02:07 Britney fired back ever so politely, but with a sharp wit.
02:11 - Does she have a boyfriend?
02:12 - No, sir.
02:13 - Why not?
02:14 - They're mean.
02:15 (audience laughing)
02:17 - Boyfriends?
02:18 You mean all boys are mean?
02:19 I'm not mean, how about me?
02:21 - Well, it depends.
02:22 (audience laughing)
02:23 - Unfortunately, we now see this as a taste
02:26 of what Britney would go on to endure throughout her career.
02:29 And do you think her male competitor
02:31 received equal treatment?
02:32 - Now, you grew up on a farm in Missouri.
02:34 Tell me about that.
02:36 - Well, Ed, it was real nice.
02:38 (audience laughing)
02:40 - So far, post-zero, youngsters too.
02:44 - Yeah, exactly.
02:46 Number eight, making her watch people criticizing her, MTV.
02:50 Britney gave a fierce performance of satisfaction
02:53 and "Oops, I Did It Again" at the 2000 VMAs.
02:55 ♪ It might seem like a rush ♪
02:59 ♪ But it doesn't mean I'm sick of ♪
03:03 - But is that what MTV wanted to focus on?
03:06 Nope, instead, they made her watch a bunch of strangers
03:09 pass judgment on what she was wearing
03:11 and whether or not it made her a bad role model for kids.
03:13 - Think about those 12-year-olds that listen to your music
03:15 and think about the 12-year-olds who saw you on the VMAs
03:18 and think what they're thinking.
03:19 They probably are thinking that it's okay
03:21 to dress like that, which it's not.
03:23 - I'm not their parent, man.
03:25 - In her book, Britney writes,
03:26 "This was my first real taste of backlash."
03:30 To her, the performance was about doing what she loved,
03:33 but suddenly, she was in the hot seat
03:35 with a light shining on her face.
03:36 - She plays off like I'm a good little country girl,
03:38 but then she walks around wearing absolutely nothing, so.
03:41 - No, dude, she has the body.
03:42 If you had the body.
03:43 (Britney laughing)
03:44 - I feel like a queen.
03:45 I don't dress like that and I have the body, so.
03:47 - Look at her arguing.
03:48 - Afterward, a voice off-screen
03:50 presses her about what she saw.
03:52 Well, how would they feel if they were in Britney's shoes?
03:55 - They're entitled to their opinion.
03:56 You know, what can I say?
03:57 I'm not gonna judge them or whatever,
03:59 but it's like, you know, I can, like I said,
04:01 I'm not the children's parents, you know what I mean?
04:04 I've just gotta be me.
04:05 - Number seven, objectifying and shaming
04:08 Britney's Rolling Stone cover, TV4.
04:11 In April 1999, Britney Spears was featured
04:14 on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine
04:15 wearing underwear and holding a Teletubbie.
04:17 - I said, let's do something for them
04:20 so that they give people something to talk about,
04:22 you know what I mean?
04:23 And something that sets you apart from everybody else.
04:27 And let's do something a little bit more provocative.
04:28 And she was up for that.
04:29 - The controversy that followed highlighted
04:31 how the media and public somehow felt ownership
04:34 over the star's image and entitled to tell her
04:36 what to do with her body.
04:37 Case in point, this interview on the Swedish network TV4,
04:41 where Britney is asked about her, quote, Lolita look.
04:44 - Been a lot of talk about your sexy Lolita look,
04:46 especially after the Rolling Stones story.
04:49 Is it your own choice, this?
04:51 Are you comfortable with a sexy look?
04:54 - It's an awful comparison to make,
04:56 but the singer gracefully responds
04:57 that everyone wants to feel strong, confident,
05:00 and yes, even sexy in their own skin.
05:03 She also explains the decisions behind the, quote,
05:05 edgy cover.
05:06 - Well, and I knew what I was going towards,
05:08 but I wanted to do something different.
05:09 - Still, the reporter is relentless on the subject
05:12 and it's painful to watch.
05:13 - What does your parents think of your sexy look?
05:17 Maybe if I look at my daughter, I want her like to be.
05:20 - You know, they don't think of it as being really that sexy,
05:23 maybe the Rolling Stone thing, yeah.
05:24 - Number six, the Vegas residency sit down.
05:27 Good morning, America.
05:28 In 2013, GMA exclusively announced
05:32 Britney's Vegas residency.
05:33 - Are you ready for this schedule physically, mentally?
05:37 Is your voice ready?
05:38 Are you ready to do this kind of work?
05:40 - I'm definitely ready.
05:41 I have sometimes training for five hours a day.
05:44 - While the interview itself isn't too bad,
05:46 bar a few questions, after reading her memoir,
05:49 we can't help but re-examine some of her answers.
05:51 In the book, she notes that initially,
05:54 the residency gave her a breather from her real life.
05:56 - Do you still get that joy every time you're on stage?
06:00 - I really enjoy what I do.
06:02 I have fun performing.
06:04 I feel like I'm at home on stage.
06:06 - But the more she was controlled,
06:07 the more her passion dimmed.
06:09 In the GMA interview, Britney details how she intends
06:12 to keep performances, quote, fresh.
06:14 - I love Vegas.
06:15 The energy here is really, really good.
06:17 I'm gonna do, definitely do the greatest hits,
06:19 but I'm gonna have to put some of my new material into it,
06:22 just to keep it fresh.
06:23 - However, in the book, she describes how her requests
06:26 to change the set list, add new material,
06:29 or create remixes were consistently denied.
06:32 She believes that her father feared others seeing her
06:34 as capable, as it could raise doubts
06:36 about the necessity of a conservator.
06:39 Number five, Justin Timberlake dines out
06:41 on their relationship and breakup, various.
06:44 It's not just Britney's old interviews we're reevaluating.
06:47 Recently, Justin Timberlake has come under fire
06:50 for his treatment of his ex
06:51 and how he built his career on her vilification.
06:54 - Yet when we sat down at the piano
06:55 and asked him to play something from "Justified,"
06:58 he chose instead to play a song
06:59 that nobody has ever heard before, interesting lyrics.
07:03 - In her book, she mentions how he would share details
07:06 of their physical relationship,
07:08 but interestingly, she's thankful
07:09 that it spared her some awkward conversations.
07:12 - Did you and she live up to this during your relationship?
07:16 - Sure.
07:16 (laughs)
07:21 Sure.
07:21 - She also reveals his repeated infidelity,
07:24 although she also confesses to kissing Wade Robson,
07:27 how he sent her a two-word breakup text,
07:30 and how he convinced her to have an abortion at 19.
07:33 JT has yet to respond to these claims,
07:36 but Britney's revelations have reignited anger
07:38 over what many deem to be his exploitation
07:41 of the media's misogyny.
07:42 - Okay, I did it.
07:43 (cheering)
07:45 - It was a really weird time.
07:46 There was talk about what we did together,
07:50 really sexually and stuff,
07:52 and I just felt very exploited.
07:54 - Number four, "Invasive Questions," TROS TV show.
07:58 We've already talked plenty about the media
08:00 and public's obsession with Britney's body.
08:02 - I think it's sad that people think I've done that
08:05 because that makes them wanna go out.
08:06 And some of the fans that look up to me,
08:08 they either think bad of me
08:10 or they may wanna go out and do that,
08:11 but that's not my fault because the press started that.
08:13 - Often, many of her most vocal critics
08:16 were also the same people asking inappropriate questions
08:18 about her physique.
08:19 Framing Britney Spears revisits one such instance
08:22 where Dutch host Ivo Nia asks the 17-year-old singer
08:25 about her breasts,
08:26 adding that she often seems angered when the topic arises.
08:29 - You seem to get furious when a talk show host
08:32 comes up with this subject.
08:33 - Nia has since retorted that the quote
08:35 was taken out of context
08:37 and was part of a wider conversation
08:38 about cosmetic surgery.
08:40 If so, it seems like an oddly specific way
08:43 to segue into the subject, don't you think?
08:45 As always, poor Brit handles the awkward question
08:47 with the utmost dignity.
08:49 - Well, I think if that's what you wanna do
08:51 and that would make you happy,
08:54 then I see nothing wrong with it,
08:55 but I haven't done that.
08:57 - Number three, "All the Interest in Her Intimate Life,"
09:00 VARIOUS.
09:01 Early in Britney's career,
09:02 there was one question that frequently arose.
09:05 Was it when is her next album dropping?
09:07 No.
09:08 Was it when she will next go on tour?
09:10 No.
09:10 It was, is Britney a virgin?
09:12 - How you feel about all the constant speculation
09:15 about your virginity and whether you are a virgin or not.
09:18 - I really wish I would have never said anything
09:20 to begin with.
09:21 - Looking back, this question comes up
09:23 a horrifying number of times.
09:25 In her book, Britney writes that she quote,
09:27 "Played into that portrayal
09:28 as it was seemingly what the public and media wanted."
09:30 - That you hope that you'll remain a virgin
09:33 until you get married.
09:34 - Yeah.
09:35 - However, she also notes how twisted it is
09:37 that people were more concerned about her intimate life
09:39 than her talents as a performer.
09:41 - And the girl who said that she was gonna stay a virgin
09:44 until she got married,
09:45 do you still think there's something to be said for that?
09:48 - She also credits Oprah for reminding her
09:50 that what consenting adults choose to do
09:52 in the privacy of their own lives
09:54 is no one else's business.
09:56 Number two, "Matt Lauer Challenges Her Parenting Abilities,"
09:59 Dateline NBC.
10:01 By 2006, Britney was in the eye
10:03 of an unrelenting media storm.
10:05 So she decided it was time to share her side of the story
10:08 and implore tabloids to back off.
10:10 - You know, this impactful thing around me all the time.
10:13 And I just feel like the editors,
10:14 they don't realize that there's not just one magazine,
10:17 there's other magazines
10:19 and they're all paying to get a story.
10:21 - At this point, she was a new mom,
10:23 pregnant with her second child
10:25 and dealing with intense media scrutiny.
10:27 Then Dateline host Matt Lauer
10:29 incessantly quizzed Britney about her parental fitness,
10:32 essentially driving her to tears.
10:34 In her book, she notes how he vaguely insinuated
10:37 that practically everyone was asking,
10:39 is Britney a bad mom?
10:41 - It's not like, did Britney record a bad song?
10:44 Is Britney wearing a bad outfit?
10:47 Is Britney in a bad marriage?
10:49 Is Britney a bad mom?
10:51 - Reflecting on the chat,
10:53 Lauer insisted there was no wrongdoing on his part.
10:56 - I think I did my job and I let her talk.
11:00 And if people didn't think it went that well, I apologize.
11:03 - All right.
11:05 - But I would do the same thing again.
11:07 - Yes.
11:08 - But given what we know now,
11:09 this whole interview just makes our skin crawl
11:12 even more than before.
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11:28 Number one, "Basically All of It," "Prime Time."
11:33 When this 2003 interview with Diane Sawyer resurfaced,
11:36 many of us watched in shock and horror
11:39 as the host repeatedly patronized,
11:41 hounded and vilified the singer.
11:43 What happened to your clothes?
11:44 - What do I have on clothes now?
11:46 - I know, but what's this about?
11:47 No kidding, what is it about?
11:49 - What is it about?
11:50 - Yeah.
11:51 - It's about doing a beautiful picture.
11:53 - Our outrage increased when Britney revealed
11:56 that not only had she been blindsided by the interview,
11:58 but that she felt she'd been set up to be humiliated
12:01 on national television, in her own home no less.
12:04 Britney notes that she did not wanna bare her soul,
12:07 share her pain or be forced to cry in front of Sawyer.
12:10 - You broke his heart.
12:11 You did something that caused him so much pain,
12:17 so much suffering.
12:20 What did you do?
12:21 - She describes the interview as quote, "A breaking point,"
12:24 where even her self-perception changed.
12:27 Today, this interview serves as a shameful reminder
12:30 of how the media and public failed Britney
12:32 and countless other young stars.
12:34 - Because of the example for kids
12:35 and how hard it is to be a parent
12:37 and keep all of this away from your kids.
12:39 - Well, that's really sad that she said that.
12:43 - Which other interviewers do you think
12:45 owe Britney a huge public apology?
12:47 Let us know in the comments.
12:48 - Women have been dealing with that kind of issue
12:50 for a long time and it needs to go away.
12:52 - Do you agree with our picks?
12:54 Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo
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