Toxic: 5 Times Godney Fired Back!

Those that grew up with Britney might remember these badass showdowns - but to a whole new generation, Toxicney is mainly known through the iconic song and music video. Kids, teens and everyone else: Let's go back in time to re-experience 5 different situations in which peasants felt the wrath of The Holy Spearit.

ROUND 1: BRITNEY VS. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

Via lovebscott.com

While we're mostly subjected to cute throwback Thursday posts about this former couple these days, there's a dark truth that got lost somewhere along the way...

How it all started...

Via vevo.com

When Justin released the second single off his debut solo album ("Justified", 2002), Britney immediately found herself under media fire. The music video for the Timbaland-produced "Cry Me A River" not only fueled speculations about cheating on Brit's part but also showed a blatantly obvious lookalike. Given the huge media buzz surrounding the story of its music video and lyrics, the track peaked at #03 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to this day remains his third best selling single in the UK.

Godney's first judgement:

Via gobritney.com

In a televised primetime-interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer, Britney recalled the moment she saw the music video for the first time, saying "I was on vacation and someone called me and told me that it was gonna come on and I watched it and I was kind of in denial." Then went on to add: "But it's okay, I don't wanna judge anybody or anything like that because that's the way he had to deal with happened and that's fine. But I know that if I was in a relationship and something happened, I just... I couldn't really go there. But it's all good. Let's talk about something else."

Sawyer however wasn't done yet. Taking all the chances a tell-all interview offers, she broached the subject again: "He has gone on television and pretty much said that you broke his heart. You did something that caused him so much pain, so much suffering. What did you do?" After clearing her throat, Britney replied: "I was upset. I was upset for a while. I think we're both really young and it was kind of waiting to happen... I will always love him. He'll always have a special place in my heart, he is such a great person." Finally Sawyer, once again proving to be the kind of interviewer you wouldn't want anywhere near you, addressed those reports about Britney cheating on Justin, to which Britney answered: "Everyone has their side of the story to make them feel a certain way. I'm not technically saying he's wrong but I'm not technically saying he's right either, so... This feels really awkward right now."

Final verdict:

Via rollingstone.com

A few months later, after intense media scrutiny following stories about their sex life being leaked to media by Justin, Godney finally got it all off her chest in an interview with Rolling Stone's Mark Binellii. "I think guys have egos, and when their egos get hurt and their pride's messed up, they deal in weird ways. And, um, I don't know, man. I really don't know. It's made me really weary of guys, I'll put it that way."

When asked whether she was hurt or pissed off by "Cry Me A River", Britney replied: "I think I was in shock, to be honest. I didn't know what to say, what to do. That was the last thing I ever thought somebody might do. I was really shocked shitless. But you live and you learn." In the interview, Britney also hinted at a very interesting phone call she received from Justin, revealing his desperate attempt to reconcile.

"He called me up and wanted to supposedly get back together or whatever, but behind it was, 'And by the way, you're in a video that's coming out.' That kind of got slipped in. 'Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal.'"

And don't think Britney was powerless all along the way.

"So the record label called and said, 'If you want to change this, you can.' I had the power to say no to the video. But I didn't, because I thought, 'Hey, it's your video.'"

But why exactly did Godney let this mess slip through?

"I hadn't watched it. Then it came out, and I said, 'I should've freakin' said no to this shit!' [...] And I said, 'Why did you do this?' He goes, 'Well, I got a controversial video.' And I was like, 'You did. [Claps her hands, as if for a dog that just performed a trick.] Yay for you.' So he got what he wanted. [Clears throat] I think it looks like such a desperate attempt, personally. But that was a great way to sell the record."

Today, Britney is the proud mother of 2 beautiful boys while Justin just welcomed his first baby boy. According to Britney, they haven't spoken "in years".

ROUND 2: BRITNEY VS. FRED DURST

Via gobritney.com

This is a story about a boy named Fred.

How it all started...

Via britneyzone.org

Given the mind-blowing success of her previous three albums (close to 60 million sales in total), Britney's 4th studio release ("In The Zone", 2003) was met with big expectations. Taking over the creative part of her art completely, Britney - for the first time - worked with a lot of different producers and songwriters. Nobody really knows why, but a certain Fred Durst was actually one of those considered.

While A-listers from Moby to Diddy and R. Kelly made it onto the record, Durst's submissions were rejected - probably due to his shitty producing of their recording of INXS's "Need You Tonight". But maybe also for claiming to having had a fling with her. Which only happened in his dreams, if you believe Britney. Which we do.

“I swear on my son Dallas’ baby blue eyes I was telling the truth [about our relationship],” Durst told Howard Stern in February 2003. “This [relationship] went on for a little while, that’s what’s pretty unbelievable about this crap she’s saying."

Godney's first judgement:

Via mtv.com

On February 17, 2003 Britney Spears not only looked legit godly appearing at the first annual TRL Awards winning TRL's First Lady award - she also spoke out on the awkward matter regarding Fred Durst for the first time publicly.

"I'm confused about that whole thing. I don't really know, you probably need to ask him", Britney told Carson Daly at the time. "The thing is, we worked together for like 3 days and he's a really cool guy but there's no relationship, I'm really kind of confused about it. I don't really know him that well", she continued, shrugging her flawless shoulders in a way only Godney could. "He's not my type."

Final verdict:

Via rollingstone.com

When a clearly pissed Durst took out his anger on a song called "Just Drop Dead", the thin line between innocent obsession and defamation was officially crossed.

"Who do you think you are? [...]
I deserve more
You act like a whore
So just drop dead
Just drop dead"

Confronted with the song's nasty lyrics during an interview, a 21- year old Britney told Rolling Stone in late 2003: "That's my bad for just associating myself with people like that. We had two days of working together. We went out one night somewhere. And I'm dating the guy now. It was news to me. So [sighs], I don't know [laughs]. I'm not doing so good with the relationships."

Asked about his Howard Stern-apperance, Britney finally added: "I'm really embarrassed, like I said, for associating myself with him. Honestly, I believe everyone at their core has a good heart. But something must be going on for someone to be that desperate to go on a show and talk about a girl, about someone you don't really know that well. That is, like, morally...
I'm really surprised at people. Like, holy shit, man."

And that, ladies & gents, is how Fred killed his career once and for all.

ROUND 3: BRITNEY VS. KENDEL EHRLICH

Via cnn.com

Wait, the wife of Maryland's governor said what?

How it all started...

Via cnn.com

A former prosecutor and defense attorney, Kendel Ehrlich shook the world when saying the above quote at an anti-violence rally in 2003. Even more obscure: this came from a woman who had campaigned against gun control.

Godney's first judgement:

Via abc.com

In her 2003 sit-down interview with Diane Sawyer, a very calm Britney Spears finally reacted, dismissing Ehrlich's ridiculous argument: "Well that's really sad, that she said that - ew! You know what? I'm not here to, you know, babysit her kids."

Later, the governor's wife insightfully apologized while retracting her outrageous statement because of a public outcry about her reference to guns.

Final verdict:

Via bbc.co.uk

Being the press magnet that she is, the disturbing news obviously spread like wildfire, with media outlets everywhere around the world discussing the matter.

While promoting "In The Zone" in the UK, Brit told Graham Norton: "I heard about that." Asked for an opinion, she replied: "She probably needs to get laid."

Nobody has heard from Kendel Ehrlich eversince.

ROUND 4: BRITNEY VS. AVRIL LAVIGNE

Via flickr.com

It's rather hard to imagine these days - given images like the above - but over a decade ago, Avril Lavigne was actually criticizing Brit for being "too sexy".

How it all started...

Via mtv.com

When the 18-year old Canadian hit the pop scene back in 2002, she was marketed as one of many "anti-Britneys" (a term that was actually overused for up-and-coming singer/songwriters at the time). Unlike other "anti-Britneys", such as Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton and Stacie Orrico, Avril Lavigne seemed to be loving the Britney-esque press coverage she was getting for talking about the Queen.

On a TRL visit, Carson famously confronted Lavigne with the following quote - allegedly coming from Avril: "Would you walk around the streets in a fucking bra? She's not being herself up there because she's dancing like a whore. Is she a whore? She says she's a virgin. You know, it's just not clicking."

Godney's first judgement:

Via wmagazine.com

Britney for the first time addressed Avril's harsh words in her 2003 no-holds-barred interview with W magazine. "Avril doesn't really dance, but whatever."

And that's not all. "It's weird. My third album sold as much as her first one, which is very funny to me because everyone thought it didn't do that great." She was referring to her 2001-LP "Britney", which spawned out classics such as "I'm A Slave 4 U" and "Overprotected". It debuted at #01 on the US Billboard 200 and managed to sell over 1 million copies during its first week of availability worldwide.

Final verdict:

Via wmagazine.com

In the very same interview, Godney however took the high road by making use of her Holy Spearit to forgive Avril for not knowing what she was doing. "I fuckin' love Avril's stuff. She fucking rocks." A year later, Avril seemed to be seized with remorse for her teenage comments, picking Britney over Christina Aguilera when asked by Ryan Seacrest. 3 years later, the Canadian singer literally declared herself a stan by singing "Gimme More" on radio. Guess she's been forgiven after all.

ROUND 5: BRITNEY VS. CHRISTINA AGUILERA

Via mtv.com

Last but definitely not least: the biggest showdown of them all.

How it all started...

Via booknetik.ru

Granted, this feud was kind of waiting to happen. They both grew up on the Mickey Mouse Club and were unarguably Disney's most famous real-life princesses during the heights of their careers (one of them still is anyways). Eversince Christina Aguilera burst into the pop scene with "Genie In A Bottle" in 1999, a few months after Britney released the legendary "...Baby One More Time", these two have been compared and pitted against each other like McDonald's and Burger King. Most saw the similarities and the differences. And looking at their career statistics, most obviously preferred and focused on Britney. "Britney was definitely asked to be the face of Versace first and turned it down because she didn't want to be associated with just one brand, so Christina picked it up", FHM's Anthony Wright said during an MTV-special on their rivalry. "If Britney won't do it, get me Christina and she'll do it."

That and their performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, where all eyes again where set on Britney, seemingly didn't sit very well with Christina. When asked about why Britney's kiss was more talked about than her own, Aguilera replied: "Maybe because, you know, MTV cut away the shot to Justin *fake laugh* and you completely missed my kiss with Madonna *fake laugh*... We'll blame MTV for that one and they already know that", implying to having confronted the music network about the issue. "It was just them kind of being, a little bit tabloidy, 'ooh let's get the ex-boyfriend's reaction to the Britney-Madonna kiss'. But all in all, I wasn't in it for the kiss necessarily anyway. I wouldn't do it again, but it was a one-time thing and I was down for it." In the interview, Christina tries to cover up that pressed little heart of hers so badly, it's actually painful to watch.

Asked whether she'd consider working with Madonna on a song, like Britney did with "Me Against The Music", Christina continued her rant: "I think I'll leave it with the performance. The performance was good. Um, Maybe Madonna, ugh, 10 years ago maybe? I mean, I've seen the video, I've seen what they've done together."

But what did she think of it? "It was the same old, dancers behind. It was nothing that you haven't seen yet. I was like 'Ooh', you know, 'that's dope. Britney and Madonna'. I was actually hoping for something a little more exciting, you know, but, you know, it was what it was - it was a Paul Hunter video - and that's that."

In a candid interview that appeared in Blender's December 2003 issue, Christina shot back one last time before Britney addressed her nasty remarks. "She kissed Madonna because she needed a gimmick. She seemed very distant, even during rehearsals.... Like a lost little girl, someone who desperately needs guidance. Just look at people like Beyoncé or Britney. They're desperate to come across as sweet, good little girls, but then you see them in photoshoots that are extremely sexual - tight little booty shorts and not much else. So why do they try to be virginal in interviews. They're not artists they're performers. Fake and superficial."

Godney's first judgement:

Via mtv.com

While promoting "In The Zone" on TRL, Britney was asked about Christina's personal shots for the first time. "But wait, I gotta say this: didn't she kiss her too? She kissed her too, right? Everyone wants to form a gimmick but it's like, I'm just doing my job, the media's the only one who interpreted it that way. I'm just doing what I do. And if they want to interpret it or misconstrue it in their way, let them."

How did she respond to Christina though? "You know what? I don't wanna say anything about her. No, she has an amazing voice, she is an amazing girl but she says some things sometimes that are just kind of rude."

Final verdict:

Via blender.com

If you think that's all she had to say about it, you're dead wrong. Godney actually sat down with Blender magazine for a comeback story on said feud and *omg*.

So what did Britney think about the world focusing on her kiss with Madonna, rather than discussing Christina's smooch, which barely made headlines (if any)? "I didn't even notice that", she said, putting on her Shirley Temple face, "I'm sorry."

Asked about X-Tina's "lost little girl"-comment, Britney remembered: "That's funny. I haven't seen her in two years and then she comes up to me in a club in front of all these people and tries to put her tongue down my throat. I'm like, 'How are you?'"

“I say, 'It’s good to see you’, and she goes, 'Well you’re not being real with me.' I was like, 'Well, Christina. What’s your definition of being real? Going up to girls and kissing them after you haven’t seen them for two years? A lost girl? I think its probably the other way around.”

According to Blender, Britney seemed furious, when the interviewer read Christina's quotes to her. "It was like half of her knew she shouldn't be saying this but Aguilera's comments have clearly hurt", Blender wrote. She stopped and apologized, then - unable to resist - hit back one more time: “When somebody’s been rude to you so many times, it’s like, ‘You know what, Christina? I’m really not about the fake shit anymore. You’re scary and I feel really dark when I get around you, so I need to be over here now.'”

These days, Christina is not much more than a struggling has-been, desperately trying to stay relevant for whatever cost while judging up-and-coming artists on NBC's hit show The Voice. It actually hurts my 90s heart to do this, but let's take a look at the facts: Christina Aguilera has not sold a significant amount of solo material since 2006 & her popularity seems to be hiding somewhere down south in Nowheresville. Could be her nasty attitude. Or the outdated sound. Probably a combination of both. Her last two albums flopped miserably, and tours were cancelled as a consequence. But don't count her out just yet - "Say Something", a collaboration with A Great Big World, earned her a Grammy. She's currently working on her 6th studio album and has hit the recording studio with Pharrell ("I'm A Slave 4 U", "Boys", "Why Should I Be Sad") recently. It's expected to drop this year.

In the past 7 years since her comeback, Britney on the other hand has earned close to $250 million from concerts alone, has released two #01 albums on the Billboard 200 and four #01 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2012 her yearly salary was $58 million, ranking her filthy rich ass #01 on Forbes's Best Paid Female Singers-list. In 2013 she landed one of the biggest-selling singles of the year with "Scream & Shout" - a collab with Black Eyed Peas-frontman will.i.am. The track has sold close to 10 million copies worldwide. Her current single "Pretty Girls", featuring Iggy Azalea, has peaked at #01 in over 40 countries on iTunes upon release.