🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
Britney Spears has denied accusations that she body-shamed fellow pop superstar Christina Aguilera.
Spears, 41, was accused of fat-shaming Aguilera in an Instagram post that she uploaded to her page on September 13, where she discussed her former Mickey Mouse Club co-star's backup dancers.
The mother of two, who married husband Sam Asghari earlier in 2022, posted a quote attributed to comedian Rodney Dangerfield that read: "I found out there was only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people."
In the caption, Elton John's Hold Me Closer collaborator—who until 2021 was living under a strict conservatorship—said she wished she could have chosen her own backup dancers for past live performances.
Then, in what some fans interpreted as an insult to Aguilera's body, Spears wrote: "I mean if I had Christina Aguilera's dancers I would have looked extremely small… I mean why not talk about it ??"
After fans commented underneath the post to question whether Spears' comments were a dig at Aguilera, also 41, the singer has responded.
How Britney Spears Responded to Claims She Body-Shamed Christina Aguilera
In a lengthy Instagram post, uploaded on September 13, Spears addressed the alleged body-shaming, noting that she did not mention Aguilera's body in her original post.
Alongside a drawing of two fairies standing side by side the star wrote to her 42 million followers: "By no means was I being critical of Christina's beautiful body, it is what it is !!! I flew to see her show once and the main thing I noticed was the difference of our people on stage !!!"
"By no means did I even mention Christina, look at my post !!! I was inspired by her show and she is a beautiful woman of power," Spears added, before thanking Aguilera for "inspiring her."
Spears went on to suggest that her comments were a result of her "insecurities" and treatment by her parents and the media.
"I would never intentionally body shame anybody because I know what it feels like … I struggle with this because of how I feel about myself, not because I hate how anybody looks … I feel like my family knew I was insecure and people were trying to purposefully feed into this insecurity by not letting me have a choice in the people who were on stage with me," she explained.
"I appreciate you all being understanding with me as I figure out this new life I'm living !!!" the star added.
Aguilera has not publicly commented on either of Spears' Instagram posts.
The Beautiful singer has shown support for Spears in the past and, during her bid to end her conservatorship, wrote an open letter to call for her freedom.
"To a woman who has worked under conditions and pressure unimaginable to most, I promise you she deserves all of the freedom possible to live her happiest life," Aguilera wrote in June 2021.
"My heart goes out to Britney. She deserves all the TRUE love and support in the world."
About the writer
Laura Donaldson is a Newsweek Film and TV Reporter (SEO), based in Edinburgh, U.K. Her focus is on reality TV. ... Read more