Boos For Britney

Pop princess Britney Spears arrived glittering and radiant in London's Leicester Square last night for the premiere of her first feature, Crossroads. But, rather than the adoring welcome normally provided by British fans, Spears was met by catcalls and boos as she walked down the red carpet. Arriving an hour late for the event, Spears failed to stop and sign a single autograph as she was rushed inside the cinema by her escorts. Die-hard Britney fans, some of whom had been waiting almost six hours for a glimpse of the star, were left incensed as their idol breezed past without pause. Fans have grown accustomed to a more hands-on approach from stars in recent years as Hollywood's A-list have made a habit of spending time outside the cinema, greeting fans and posing for photographs. At the Vanilla Sky premiere in January, Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz spent an hour talking with the crowds and Cruise even took the time to speak with fans who couldn't attend in person by accepting mobile phones from the crowd. Two and a half thousand people were packed ten deep around the cinema for Britney's arrival but were left standing in dismay as their long wait failed to bear fruit. A subsequent emergence by Britney to wave from the balcony was simply not enough to appease the disappointed crowd. "Gemma's crying her eyes out because she couldn't see a thing," The irate mother of 11-year-old Gemma Willis, told the BBC. "How does Britney expect people to go and see her film if she can't be bothered to say hello to her fans?" But if the pop idol turned movie star was at all nonplussed by the frosty reception, she gave no sign telling reporters how pleased and flattered she was that so many of her fans had come to see her. Asked whether this change of career will be a new direction, Britney replied, "Music is my heart and soul and that's what I'm going to do, but I think right now acting is so much fun, it's a whole new ballgame and a new territory and I want to focus on that right now." A studio spokesperson has since stated that, while Britney was eager to do a walkabout outside the cinema, the popstar was advised against it due to security concerns.