Britney Spears Responds To “Criminal” Video Controversy

Britney Spears’ “Criminal” video isn’t even finished being cut together and it’s already drawn controversy. Brit filmed the video for her fourth Femme Fatale single in the London borough of Hackney, which was recently hit by August’s London riots. And many people found the video’s concept — Spears and her boyfriend Jason Trawick rob stores with use of replica pistols — offensive and inappropriate, considering the recent gun violence that took place in the area. Check out how Brit responded to these allegations after the jump.

“I think she should apologize and make a sizeable donation to a Hackney charity that deals with young people, in compensation for the rudeness and damage that she’s done to our community,” said Hackney Councilor Ian Rathbone. Hackney’s Member of Parliament, Diane Abbott, added, “It is only a music video, but it’s images like this, with pop stars glamorizing gangs, which means that some young people … get drawn in.”

Additionally, UK politicians are up in arms that Britney used a replica gun while filming in Stoke Newington Town Hall. Had they known, they would never have allowed the video to film there.

So what’s Brit’s response? Apologize profusely for being so insensitive? Vow to reshoot the video, or not release it at all? Or how about making that “sizeable donation”? Well, according to a statement made by Spears’ camp, none of the above!

“The video is a fantasy story featuring Britney’s boyfriend, Jason Trawick, which literally plays out the lyrics of a song written three years before the riots ever happened,” reads the statement.

And that’s it. No apologies, no nothin’. We’ll see if that’s explanation enough for those offended. (We doubt it.)

[Via MTV]