Oops! Britney Video Not Ready for MTV

Tue., Oct. 24, 2000 2:00 PM PDT by Mark Armstrong

Being Britney Spears has its advantages: There's the millions of adoring teen fans, a boyfriend in 'N Sync, platinum-selling pop records...washboard abs.

But it also has its share of disadvantages: For instance, when you're late, everyone notices.

Such was the case for Spears Monday, when MTV was forced to scramble after the 18-year-old pop princess failed to deliver the much-hyped new video for her single, "Stronger."

Sure, if this were the new Foreigner single, the world may not have batted an eyelash. But this is Britney, and for weeks, the popster-idolizing network had been heavily promoting Monday's world premiere--set to air alongside a new, all-Britney episode of Making the Video at 4:30 p.m. ET. It's the third clip from Spears' multiplatinum sophomore effort, Oops!...I Did It Again.

But once MTV found out the video wouldn't be ready, the network instead aired (with no explanations) an installment of Say What? Karaoke, originally scheduled for the 5 p.m. slot. (On the bright side, Spears fans were treated to a fine karaoke rendition of "Oops!...I Did It Again.")

A spokesperson for Spears' label, Jive Records, said the video was delayed because it's still stuck in post-production. "It's going to debut next week," said one rep. No word yet from MTV on when the video will premiere in all its ultra-hyped glory.

Still, the postponed premiere left some fans confused. "Is this a giant MTV ploy?" queried one Spears devotee at alt.fan.britney-spears. "It seems like they pulled it at the last minute."

Which means fans will just have to get their fix with a promo clip for "Stronger." In it, Spears says the new video revolves around her catching her boyfriend with another girl. "It's about being alone and being out on your own," Spears says in the clip. "In this video, it's just me dancing by myself, and I've never done that in a video before."

We can't wait.

In other Britney business news, the Chicago-based designers of Spears' official Website are suing the singer and her marketing company for failing to pay more than $125,000 in fees racked up while creating her Web destination. DNA Visual Business Solutions filed the federal lawsuit last week, claiming the marketing company, Signatures SNI, refused to pay the last five installments of development fees for www.britneyspears.com.