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Britney Spears has admitted she was “scared” when she decided to bring out a live python during her performance of I’m a Slave 4 U at the 2001 VMAs.
The newly-single Spears, who split with her husband Sam Asghari last month, shared a throwback clip to X this week to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards and plug her upcoming autobiography, The Woman in Me, which hits stores next month.
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“One of my favourite performances was with an albino python,” the 41-year-old wrote in the post’s caption, revealing that she wasn’t comfortable during her legendary performance.
“I still remember how scared I felt when I was handed this snake and took the stage!!!”
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Spears’ fans recalled the iconic moment with praise, with one person declaring, “You absolutely killed it.”
“Really, there will never be anyone like you,” another fan added. “The VMAs were never the same without you performing in it!”
After her act, The Parents Association of America (PAA) hit out at Spears, accusing her of being a “bad role model for young girls.”
But the pop star was undeterred, telling Rolling Stone: “I like wearing those clothes … If the song calls for me to wear something a little voluptuous or sexy, I like to go there.”
Still, in a 2016 interview with E!, Spears said she would never take to the stage with a python again.
“Hell no! It’s so dumb. No! Never!” she said.
The snake handler who helped make the sultry moment come to life said that going into the VMAs that night, he didn’t really know who Spears was.