We had a sneaking suspicion that Britney Spears would perform at the VMAs because she’s been working hard to get herself back into shape. (Take the above bikini shot from Labor Day as proof of time spent at the gym.) But we were only half right: MTV Networks honcho Van Toffler confirmed today that Britney will kick off the VMAs again this year, but he explicitly said she won’t perform. Instead, it will be something “fun and unexpected.” “I think for Britney, people are rooting for her, and she’s really on the road to recovery,” Toffler said. “It feels like it’s her year. It’s our 25th anniversary of the VMAs, and she’s been such a critical piece of MTV’s history.”
Part of that history is Britney’s infamous performance of Gimme More at last year’s VMAs, which was so lame that it provided fodder for tabloids all year and served as a kind of perverse publicity tool for the VMAs. In addition to giving Britney a second chance, MTV is working on giving the spotlight to another shaky star: Michael Jackson. “We’ve been talking to him as well, I don’t know if that’s going to happen,” said Toffler.
With a doubleheader like Spears and Jackson, this year could be big for MTV’s Video Music Awards. Tune in to MTV Sunday at 9PM EST and check back with Scandalist all week for VMA-related gossip and pics. [Source: AP; Photo: INF]
Related Scandalist Content: Labor Day bikini pics
