Britney Spears backed out of recording a duet with former boyfriend Justin Timberlake in a move that’s causing concern for her label, Jive Records.
The duet was to have been produced by Timbaland and could have spawned a major comeback for the troubled pop princess. A source inside the music industry said Justin Timberlake specifically wrote this song for him and Britney to record.
“Timbaland set aside a week out of his crazy schedule to do this - and then, just before she was supposed to fly out, Britney abruptly canceled the session and refused to do the song.
“It’s crazy,” the insider added. “She’s looking for a comeback, and this would have not only been a huge hit, but something she could have opened the MTV Video Awards with and really blown everyone away.”
Another insider said, “Listen, everyone is worried. In her mind, her album is done and she’s done enough work . . . She’s an easy target right now, because she’s . . . sick. People like her are sick. It’s like an anorexic who’s sick in the head and needs help. She needs help. It’s sad because what she’s got - and we’ve heard it’s like bipolar disorder - can easily be treated with medication, but she won’t do it.”
Now there’s discussion that Britney is going to bomb at the upcoming VMAs thanks to her odd behavior. The Insider claims her record label continues to stand behind her, however.
“People at Jive have been with Britney since album one, and have an investment in her. They have faith that once the material is there, she will become focused and step it up. She’s very competitive, but at the end of the day, it’s hard. She has to do the work - no one can do it for her.”
Reps from her label and Justin Timberlake’s camp aren’t commenting. Britney, who is in the midst of a nasty custody battle, isn’t commenting either.
