Some London political types have hit out at Britney Spears for filming a pop video in Hackney which seems to glamorise gun violence.
Some seem offended by the concept of the video in general, others that she chose to film it in East London, and others still that the filming involved the popstress waving a fake pistol around outside Stoke Newington Town Hall. The video is for new single ‘Criminal’, and has a Bonnie and Clyde theme apparently.
Presumably aware of the damage recent riots did to the reputation of some of London’s suburbs, including Hackney, local councillor said of the Britney video to ‘London Tonight’: “I think she should apologise and make a sizeable donation to a Hackney charity that deals with young people… for the rudeness and damage she’s done to this community”.
Meanwhile local MP Diane Abbott added: “It is only a music video but it’s images like this, with pop stars glamorising gangs, which means that some young people … get drawn in. Britney should really know better”.
Hackney Council, which was in the news last week for turning down an application for a new Channel 4 crime drama set on a fictional housing estate to be filmed in the area, admitted it had given the Britney video the go ahead, but said it did not give permission for a replica gun to be used and that it would be taking the matter up with the production company behind the pop promo.
Sections: Pop Politics | Tags: Britney Spears
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