Parents Ignite Over Britney Spears' Controversial Lyrics

By Broadside Contributor Kerry Robinson

What has been happening in the lives of celebrities lately? There have been three celebrities who have stood out in the media spotlight more than others.

Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Geri Halliwell have all gotten a considerable amount of attention these last few weeks for scandalous song lyrics, remarkable weight loss and a quickie engagement.

Britney Spears, the princess of pop, is back in the public eye. From her revealing outfits to her breakdown in 2007, she has been no stranger to controversy. The latest has involved her new single, “If U Seek Amy,” which appears on the singer’s newest album Circus. To most teenagers and music listeners around the world, the song is similar to many of the singer’s other popular hits with a catchy chorus intact. Parents have watched their children singing the song and made a connection: when saying the title quickly, it suggests sex.

This theme is used in many of the songs we hear on the radio, so is it really a surprise that a singer who has been seen as a sex symbol for years uses sexual themes as parts of her songs?

The Parental Television Council has been working to get the song removed from the radio, but to no avail. Britney was asked to change the title to “If You See Amy” which technically would have the same meaning if said quickly. This controversy is not stopping Britney, however, the songstress shot the video for the single last Tuesday.

Another face that has been seen frequently in the news is Lindsay Lohan. She has been publicly criticized the last few years for her alleged lesbian relationship with Samantha Ronson and her stints in rehab. Now, she has been seen looking rather unhealthy, causing the media and fans alike to wonder if she has resorted back to her old ways. This is not the first time Lindsay Lohan has looked less than healthy. She had been extremely thin around the time of her arrest for driving under the influence and with drugs in her car.

We all miss the Lindsay from The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday, the films that sparked her movie career. She went from being a prominent actress to making fewer and fewer appearances on TV shows. Also, the controversial star has been in the press for her feuds with directors who are afraid to hire her because of her poor behavior on movie sets and her alleged abusive use of alcohol and drugs. Is her less than normal figure a result of depression over losing work or has she returned to her “bad girl” ways?

And lastly, Geri Halliwell, of Spice Girls fame, is engaged to be married after only dating an Italian yacht tycoon for a couple months. According to people.com, yacht company owner Fabrizio Politi, gave Ginger Spice a $310,000 diamond ring. It’s hard to argue with that. But two months? I wonder how long that relationship will last. It did not work for Nicky Hilton and Britney Spears so we are doubting it will work for her, either.

Most women wait much longer before they realize they have found Mr. Right. Many people all over the world are probably wondering why she has decided to make this decision so soon. Is it that everyone in Hollywood is quick to rush to the altar or is the saying “love at first sight” true in this unique case? Who knows. I give it three months, maybe four.