Lee slams 'Britney bashing'

Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee has leaped to the defence of troubled pop star Britney Spears following a hurtful web video soundtracked by one of the band's hits.

A fan of the rock group posted a spoof film of Spears on file-sharing site YouTube.com, using one of Evanescence's songs in the background.

But singer Lee is adamant neither her nor her bandmates endorse the clip after "everything she (Spears) has been through", and is begging the amateur moviemaker to take down the short.

Lee insists her music was never intended to inspire projects "based on getting enjoyment out of someone's pain".

Spears checked herself into rehab yesterday after shocking fans last week with an impromptu haircut and tattoo session.