Brit Split Gives Power to the People

Larry Busacca/WireImage.com

Britney Spears filed for divorce from Kevin Federline on Election Day. Some think it was planned that way because Spears hoped that political coverage would lessen the media attention given to the split.

I don't think so. While she may have received slightly less airtime on outlets like CNN and Fox News, the celeb weeklies could care less about the electorate—unless, of course, Ben Affleck finally announces he's running for office.

My theory? Spears wanted to screw over Us Weekly.

It's no secret that the onetime pop princess is no fan of Us. Just four days before filing for divorce, she lost a long and costly legal battle with the magazine. In short, Spears tried to sue the celebrity tabloid for $10 million for defamation because it reported that a member of her entourage was shopping around a Paris Hilton-like adult-themed video of her and Federline. Superior Court Judge Lisa Hart Cole didn't rule on whether such a tape existed but instead threw out the lawsuit. Spears was unlikely to be defamed by the report, said Judge Cole, because she's built her career on her sexuality.

So, if the 25-year-old couldn't beat Us in court, she could at least try to take a bite out of its gargantuan newsstand sales. In other words, by filing on Tuesday, she was guaranteed that Us would be outdated in its coverage this week by its archenemy and the Spears-friendly People magazine. Us goes to press on Mondays. People goes to press on Tuesdays.

Just look at their new covers. Us has a photo of a dark-haired Spears carrying eight-week old son Jayden James, with a headline about a "vicious" fight between the couple. Us asks, "How much more can the new mom take from Kevin?"

People can answer that. "Britney Files for Divorce!" That's what the mag's cover shouts in big yellow letters, with a much more flattering shot of a smiling, blond Spears taken from her Monday appearance on David Letterman.

"A lot of celebs do things that are very media-centric, like putting something out on a Friday," Ken Baker, Us Weekly's West Coast executive editor, told me this afternoon. "But I think in this case, it appears her personal life is driving the agenda."

Us Weekly certainly isn't the only divorceless tabloid to hit stands this week. Star, InTouch and Life & Style also go to press on Mondays.

"I'd like to think Us Weekly controls every decision Britney makes in her life," says Baker, "but I think that would probably be just self-gratifying."

Reps for People and Spears declined to comment.

Now the question is, whose side each of the mags will take. While there's little sympathy for K-Fed, don't dismiss him just yet. A simple—but exclusive—interview with Us or any magazine for that matter will earn the wannabe rapper many brownie points. People, undoubtedly, will join Team Spears.

Even so, fashion trade newspaper WWD reports today that Spears' reps have contacted several women's monthly magazines to offer them contact with the singer and free photos of her and Federline's two children. WWD reports that such a deal could be a blow to Federline's bank account because he's apparently guaranteed a portion of any money made on pics of the kids. But more important, a spread in a high-end fashion monthly could be a major step in the Reinvention of Britney.

For the record, I was employed by Us Weekly as a columnist and its news director.