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6/15/2006 1:03 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
Why We Care About Britney

On the internet, Britney is like crack.  People just can't get enough of her.  On TMZ, she's bigger than "American Idol."

I have a theory on why this woman -- who has pretty much tried to take herself off the radar screen for a couple of years -- is so incredibly popular.  No doubt, young girls who loved her back in the day still do.  But the fascination is much broader.

I don't mean this disparagingly, but Britney Spears is a real life Beverly Hillbilly and the only roots she's lost are on top of her head.  When she told Matt Lauer that she's "country," it's true.

A few years ago, I was working out at my gym in Los Angeles.  The workout floor is fairly small, so everyone sees everything.  Suddenly, I see Britney enter with a very large bodyguard, who stood his distance. 

It was utterly fascinating.  I've seen plenty of stars cop an attitude in public but there was none of it with her.  She was completely real.   For starters, she was not looking in the mirror to see who was looking at her.  She went about her business, smiling, chewing gum, doing her thing.  At one point I was on a bench next to her and it was "hi, how ya doin'?" 

Every guy in the gym looked but tried not to and she was just as regular as people get, with one exception -- she put headphones on and shortly thereafter started to dance. 

I know she's taken her lumps on TMZ from time to time, but I actually love her -- maybe the most "real" young star out there.

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Reader Comments

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1.

becka:  2069 days ago

i think people should give Britt a break! she is just like anyone else out there only that she has more money! I think she is a great mom she is always with her son unlike most celebrities who dump their kids with nannys and go out...i just hope she makes the right decision about her marriage, she deserves nothing but the best! K-fed i don't know, he's hardly there and she's pregnant! but if she is happy with him, then, that's what should matter. Forget what people think Britt! you go girl!

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2.

LAGurl:  2069 days ago

I just love Britney and feel horrible for. She seems to be in such a downward spiral lately. I admit that I do long for the 'Oops I did it again' days but realize she is a human being not put on earth to just entertain me. She should live her life as she sees fit...even if it is a trainwreck. I love ya Brit, hang in there! Your fans will be waiting for your comeback!

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3.

Janet:  2069 days ago

I can't blame Brit for wanting the paparazzi to back off a bit.Ok they are doing a job but come on guys ya'll don't have to be so close that we can see their nose hairs.GIVE THEM SOME ROOM !!! No wonder Brit almost triped with her baby in her arms they were all over her.Hell she probally trip over the paparazzi.

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4.

Ruthy:  2068 days ago

Britt needs to be left alone. She has to now take care of her family and herself. Doesn't the press know that she is pregnant for the love of god??? It is bad enough that us women go thru an emotional disbalance when our body is changing.. the press is not helping by attacking her everywhere she goes and criticizing everything she does. She is human... we all make our mistakes. So what if she almost dropped her baby. What is the big deal? The baby did not fall.. thank god!!! and that is something that can happen to any mother. Maybe if the paparazzi would not be up her butt, then she would not react the way she does. I tell you something.... if her baby would have fallen, it would have been no ones fault but the animals who freaking chase her around.

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5.

Ann:  2068 days ago

Britney is a very sweet & nice girl deep down & people shouldn't be so mean to her. Yes, I'll admit that she almost dropped her baby once & that she rode with him in her lap one time...but everyone makes mistakes...it's just that not everyone has paparazzi following them at all times, so you don't get to see their mistakes. She's been having to deal with paparazzi for years & I know it's got to be hard on her. And now that she has a child & another one on the way, it just makes things harder to where she can't think straight. It's normal...everyone gets like that when they are under pressure. I love Britney & I hope the best for her.

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6.

Jesse:  2068 days ago

Thanks so much for saying something nice about Britney! People need to realize shes human and makes mistakes.

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7.

sarah:  2065 days ago

Brit is just another celeb out to make a buck and if you want to be famous, better get used to at least some publicity - good and bad. And yes, gum in any interview is bad... didn't she learn that it looks bad to chew gum for things like interviews, TV spots etc.. maybe she chewed gum during concerts too for all that matter. I have never been a fan of hers and it seems that when she was a pop tart, she gleened lots of PR and pleasure from the media coverage. If she wants privacy, don't do reality TV. How do some celebs stay under the radar? (Jodie Foster, Nicole Kidman, Jay Leno, etc... lead relatively private lives to some degree)

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