Music

Britney Spears defends 'Criminal' video: 'It's a fantasy story'

Published Tuesday, Sep 27 2011, 12:49 BST | By Lewis Corner | 8 comments

Britney Spears has defended her new music video after it came under fire from British MPs.

The singer filmed the promo for her new single 'Criminal' in east London last week and was seen wielding a hand gun after raiding a shop.

British MPs were quick to criticise the star for the video's plotline, insisting that the shoot was ill-timed as it came just weeks after riots broke out in the area.

However, Spears's management told MTV: "The video is a fantasy story featuring Britney's boyfriend Jason Trawick, which literally plays out the lyrics of a song written three years before the riots ever happened."

'Criminal' is the fourth single to be lifted from Spears's multimillion-selling album Femme Fatale.

The 29-year-old will return to the UK in October as part of the European leg of her 'Femme Fatale' world tour.

> Britney Spears visits UK: 'I'm having a blast in London'

Listen to Britney Spears's new single 'Criminal' below: