Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have been pop culture frenemies for decades. From their early days on The Mickey Mouse Club to their reign as 2000s pop icons, the two were constantly compared, pitted against each other, and, let’s be honest, thrown into some serious pop princess drama. Whether it was Aguilera shading Spears’ 2003 Madonna kiss or Spears throwing subtle jabs in her memoir, their relationship has been messy at best.
But recently, fans think the feud might finally be over. Spears gave Aguilera a rare shoutout in an Instagram post, saying she “inspired” her, and Aguilera even liked it. That’s basically a peace treaty in pop star terms! Does this mean they’re besties now? Maybe not, but it’s a huge shift from the years of awkward interviews and passive-aggressive moments.
Of course, pop fans know better than to assume this is a forever thing. One wrong move, and we could be back in shade territory. But for now, let’s enjoy this possible truce and hope that someday, we get the collab that 2000s kids have been dreaming about for years. Spears and Aguilera singing together? Now, that would break the internet.
2003: The VMAs, the kiss, and the shade that followed
The 2003 MTV VMAs gave us one of the most legendary pop culture moments ever, Madonna locking lips with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera while performing Like a Virgin. But while Spears’ kiss became the headline, Aguilera’s moment was totally ignored. Why? Because the cameras cut straight to Justin Timberlake’s face for maximum drama. Talk about bad timing.
Aguilera later confirmed the snub, saying in a 2018 interview that she was barely acknowledged in the aftermath. Ouch. But the drama didn’t stop there. She also claimed Spears acted distant during rehearsals, calling her a lost little girl who needed guidance. Spears did not appreciate that comment, later firing back in an interview, saying that Aguilera was the one being fake.
And just when you thought the saga was over, Aguilera and Timberlake cozied up on the cover of Rolling Stone, with Aguilera casually suggesting that he and Spears should get back together. Spears admitted in her memoir that this comment stung.
Basically, what was supposed to be an iconic performance turned into a messy web of shade, side-eyes, and serious pop star tension. And honestly? It was peak early-2000s drama at its finest.
2005: Britney Spears’ olive branch or just a rumor?
In 2005, rumors swirled that Britney Spears wanted to mend fences with Christina Aguilera. US Weekly reported that a blog post on Spears’ website claimed she “would love to be close with Christina again.”
The post even said Spears had written Aguilera a letter, complimenting her on how “happy and beautiful” she looked. Sounds sweet, right? But here’s the catch: there’s no confirmation that Aguilera ever received this letter or Spears even wrote it herself.
2008: Christina Aguilera clears the air
By 2008, Christina Aguilera was ready to set the record straight on her so-called feud with Britney Spears. In an interview with The Daily Mail, she reflected on their early pop careers, calling it “a funny time” and admitting that the media may have exaggerated their rivalry. Aguilera said,
It must have seemed as if we were competing with each other. But, in reality, Britney is someone that I used to hold hands with. We were silly little girls together on The Mickey Mouse Club. What a journey it has been for both of us.
Was this an official apology? Maybe. But at the very least, it was a nostalgic nod to their shared history—one that started long before the media made them rivals.
2021: Christina Aguilera breaks the silence and supports Britney Spears
When Britney Spears finally got the chance to speak in court about her conservatorship nightmare, the world listened, and so did Christina Aguilera. Days after Spears’ emotional testimony, Aguilera took to Twitter with a heartfelt message, making it clear that she was firmly on Team Britney.
She called the situation “unacceptable,” slamming the idea that any woman could be stripped of her rights. She wrote,
To be silenced, ignored, bullied or denied support by those ‘close’ to you is the most depleting, devastating and demeaning thing imaginable.
If that wasn’t enough, she made it clear that Spears deserved complete control over her life, her choices, and, most importantly, her happiness. She added,
The conviction and desperation of this plea for freedom leads me to believe that this person I once knew has been living without compassion or decency from those in control.
For the two stars who were once pitted against each other, this was a major moment. After years of rumored tension, Aguilera proved that when it really mattered, she was in Spears’ corner. Pop rivalries fade, but real support? That’s forever.
2021: Britney Spears calls out Christina Aguilera for staying silent
Just when it seemed like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were on better terms, things took a sharp turn. After Spears’ conservatorship finally ended in November 2021, fans expected Aguilera, who had previously voiced support, to celebrate the news publicly. But instead? Radio silence.
At the Latin Grammy Awards, a reporter from Elle Australia asked Aguilera about Spears, but her publicist quickly shut down the question. As she walked away, Aguilera simply said,
I can’t. But I’m happy for her.
That response did not sit well with Spears. She took to Instagram, posting the clip of Christina dodging the question, and called her out for refusing to speak. Spears wrote, expressing frustration that some people still avoided the topic despite her 13-year-long battle,
Refusing to speak when you know the truth is equivalent to a lie!
She ended her message by thanking those who had supported her, making it clear that silence wasn’t an option. Just like that, any hopes of a full-on reconciliation between the two pop queens were put on ice. It was another reminder that even after decades, the Britney-Christina saga was far from over.
October 2023: Christina Aguilera’s cryptic response to Britney Spears’ memoir
When Britney Spears announced her memoir The Woman in Me, fans were eager to see if Christina Aguilera would be mentioned.
And when Aguilera appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live just a week before the book’s release, Kimmel had to ask.
Do you think you’ll be in it?
Aguilera’s response? A very hesitant,
Dude, I don’t know. I don’t know.
As Kimmel pushed further, asking if she hoped to be in it, Aguilera nervously laughed it off.
Am I hoping? I mean, I’m hoping everything is all good with her and everything is beautiful. I think the future should be celebrated.
But Kimmel wasn’t done yet. He asked,
If you had to choose between being in it and not being in it…
Her final answer?
I’d rather it be you than me.
Oof. That response had fans wondering if Aguilera was expecting some tea to be spilled. Did she know what Spears had written? With all their past drama, this cryptic reaction only added to the anticipation. Would Spears mention her? And if so, would it be good or messy?
October 2023: What Britney Spears’ memoir really said about Christina Aguilera
Britney Spears’ memoir, The Woman in Me, didn’t spend much time on Christina Aguilera, but the few mentions she did get? Well, they were interesting.
First, Spears brought up their Mickey Mouse Club days, a nod to their shared pop princess origins. But things took a turn when she discussed that time in 2003 when she was being dragged by the media after her breakup with Justin Timberlake.
Spears recalled how the press loved Timberlake and Aguilera, pointing out their Rolling Stone cover together. She found it especially weird that Aguilera had said in an interview that Spears and Timberlake should get back together despite being, um, not the nicest about her elsewhere. Spears admitted,
It stung.
Then, there was a Vegas anecdote where Spears met Aguilera while both were on tour. Her verdict?
She seemed pretty messed up.
But hey, at least Spears still had a good time swimming and hot-tubbing with her dancers. On a nicer note, Spears did call Aguilera “really professional on TV.” A compliment? Maybe. Or maybe shade about how Aguilera was a bit too polished.
Feud or friendship? Who knew? But after years of media-fueled drama, Spears and Aguilera’s dynamic might have just been kinda normal.
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