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Kelly Rissman
US News Reporter
Megan Thee Stallion honored MTV VMAsâ 40-year history by recreating Britney Spearsâ remarkable âSlave 4 Uâ outfit.
On 11 September, the 29-year-old âMamushiâ artist took center stage inside the UBS Arena to host this yearâs awards ceremony. For her big entrance, Megan stepped out in a bedazzled leotard resembling Team USAâs gymnastics uniforms for the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, the on-stage performer plucked a piece from fashion history on live television later in the show when she stepped out in a replica of Spearsâ âSlave 4 Uâ outfit from her 2001 VMAs performance.
Megan laughed as the camera focused on her in the green bra top, low-waisted blue bottoms with dangling beads, and a long tulle train exactly like the âToxicâ singerâs from 23 years ago. And wrapped around her arms was a real albino python, subtly slithering as she pretended to sing the hit song.
âOkay. Okay. Stop the music,â Megan screamed, standing still trying not to bother the snake. âIâm just playing. Come get the snake. I donât know this snake, this snake donât know me. Oh my god.â
Online, fans obsessed over the iconic pop culture remake, praising the âCry Babyâ vocalistâs look in the outfit.
The âCriminalâ performer recently reflected on her iconic performance while holding the snake around her shoulders on X, formerly known as Twitter, ahead of her memoir release. Speaking to her social media fans, Spears admitted the 2001 MTV VMAs moment was a âfavoriteâ of hers.
âOne of my favorite performances was with an albino python,â she wrote on September 6, 2023. âI still remember how scared I felt when I was handed this snake and took the stage.â
In her book, The Woman in Me, Spears details the experience, confessing how she believed the snake was âhissingâ at her the entire time. âThe goddamn snakeâs tongue is flicking out at me,â she said.
âWhat nobody knows is that as I was singing, the snake brought its head right around to my face, right up to me, and started hissing at me,â Spears continued. âYou didnât see that shot on the TV, but in real life? I was thinking, âAre you f***ing serious right now? The f***ing goddamn snakeâs tongue is flicking out at me. Right. Now.â Finally, I got to the part where I handed it back, thank God.â
The music legendâs âSlave 4 Uâ performance marked her third one at the MTV VMAs. In 2003, Spears took the stage once again, kissing Madonna and Christina Aguilera during âLike a Virgin.â Unfortunately, the artist was not present for this yearâs awards ceremony.
You can find all the winners from the 2024 MTV VMAs here.
