Britney Spears Reveals How ‘Terrifying’ VMAs Duet With Giant Snake Really Was

Britney Spears is reflecting on one of the most iconic moments of her career.

While fans undoubtedly remember her performing “I’m a Slave 4 U” with an albino Burmese python wrapped around her shoulders, Spears shares in her upcoming memoir what that iconic moment at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards actually felt like — and says it was genuinely “terrifying.”

“The plan was for me to sing ‘I’m a Slave 4 U,’ and we decided I would use a snake as a prop,” writes Spears in an excerpt of her memoir, “The Woman in Me,” published Tuesday by People.

“It’s become an iconic moment in VMAs history, but it was even more terrifying than it appeared,” she continues. “All I knew was to look down, because I felt if I looked up and caught its eye, it would kill me.”

Despite a surprise appearance by Michael Jackson, Spears and her seemingly effortless snake-charming stole the show.

“In my head I was saying, Just perform, just use your legs and perform,” Spears, who was 19 at the time, writes in her memoir. “But what nobody knows is that as I was singing, the snake brought its head right around to my face, right up to me, and started hissing.”

She continues: “I was thinking, Are you fucking serious right now? The fucking goddamn snake’s tongue is flicking out at me. Right. Now. Finally, I got to the part where I handed it back, thank God.”

The snake itself was, hilariously, named Banana.

Her performance appeared effortless to millions, but Spears was genuinely terrified.
Her performance appeared effortless to millions, but Spears was genuinely terrified.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

The moment is clearly visible around the 3-minute mark in official footage from MTV. But die-hard fans won’t have to rely on old recordings for new Spears stories much longer — she is set to candidly dish on her life and career in “The Woman in Me,” which hits shelves Oct. 24.

The millennial pop star has been on an extensive promotional run for the upcoming memoir, which her publisher says will explore “the impact of sharing her voice” in court battles over her controversial conservatorship and how “it changed the course of her life.”

Spears has already shared a handful of illuminating excerpts from the book, writing about the drinking habits of her parents, why she really shaved her head in 2007 — and saying ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake once urged her to get an abortion.

The audiobook version will be narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Michelle Williams.

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Lil Nas X, Kendrick Lamar And Jack Harlow Top MTV VMA Nominations

Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X and Kendrick Lamar are the top contenders with seven nominations at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.

Lil Nas X and Harlow earned multiple nominations for their collaborative hit Industry Baby, which is nominated for video of the year.

Both performers, along with Drake, Bad Bunny, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Lizzo, will compete for artist of the year.

Lamar, who is nominated for the first time since 2018, has two songs, family ties and N95, that will vie for best cinematography.

The rapper was also nominated for best hip-hop, direction, visual effects, editing, and video for good.

Styles and Doja Cat received the second-most nominations with six.

Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd each pulled in five.

Madonna, who is the most decorated artist in MTV history with 20 wins, becomes the only artist to receive a nomination in each of the VMAs’ five decades.

She earned her 69th nomination for her 14th studio album Madame X.

The awards will have 26 first-time nominees, including Baby Keem with four along with Kacey Musgraves, GAYLE and Maneskin – who each have two nominations.

The VMAs will take place on August 28 at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey.

Fan voting begins on Tuesday across 22 categories at vote.mtv.com.

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Conor McGregor Brands Machine Gun Kelly A ‘Little Vanilla Boy Rapper’ Following MTV VMAs Scuffle

Conor McGregor has called Machine Gun Kelly a “little vanilla boy rapper” after the Irish UFC star appeared to throw a punch at the rapper on the MTV VMAs red carpet on Sunday night.

Pictures from the event appeared to show Conor and Machine Gun Kelly being kept apart by security.

The former UFC champion attended the ceremony at the Barclays Centre in New York with his partner Dee Devlin, while the US musician arrived with his Hollywood actor girlfriend Megan Fox.

Stephen LovekinStephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly

Following the red carpet altercation, the Dublin-born fighter insisted that “nothing” had happened.

“Absolutely nothing. I don’t know. He showed up, and I don’t know. I don’t know the guy,” Conor told Entertainment Tonight, 

“Nothing happened with me, I only fight real fighters, people that actually fight, you know what I mean.

“I certainly don’t fight little vanilla boy rappers. I don’t even know the guy. I don’t know anything about him, except that he’s with Megan Fox.”

Stephen LovekinStephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, was also asked about the alleged altercation but walked away without answering the question.

Both men later appeared during the VMAs ceremony.

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Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly

Conor, who is walking with a cane after suffering a serious leg injury in his latest fight in July, was on hand to award Justin Bieber his artist of the year prize.

Machine Gun Kelly was also among the night’s winners, taking home the prize for best alternative in recognition of his song My Ex’s Best Friend.

He and Transformers star Megan have been dating since last year.

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