Britney Spears and Halsey fans are convinced that an online spat between the pair was actually a publicity stunt to promote Halsey’s new single “Lucky”. The track interpolates Spears’ 2000 track of the same name, and the accompanying music video includes several visual references to the “Toxic” singer’s legacy and tumultuous rise to fame . Within hours of Halsey released the song on Friday (26 July), Spears wrote in a social media post that she felt “harassed, violated and bullied” by the track’s video and would be taking legal action.
She also claimed the video was “cruel” and portrayed her as a “superficial popstar”. However, hours later, Spears deleted the post and said her phone had been hacked. “That was not me on my phone !!! I love Halsey and that’s why I deleted it,” she wrote to her 54m followers, to which Halsey responded: “and I love Britney!!!! I always have and always will.
You were the first person who ever made me realise what it means to feel inspired. And you continue to inspire me everyday.” While some fans debated whether the video paid homage to Spears or not, others sniffed out a potential publicity stunt.
“I love how @britneyspears still knows how to play the game! Obvious publicity stunt to bump Halsey’s song,” said one fan online. “LOVE this. This is what pop culture has been missing lately!” Another added: “You see Britney really just showed everybody what a #real stunt is.
Now people will actually wat.