Bleary Britney flops at music awards

AN out-of-shape, out-of-touch Britney Spears delivered what was destined to be the most talked about performance of the MTV Video Music Awards —– but for all the wrong reasons.

Kicking off the show with her new single, Gimme More, Spears looked bleary and unprepared, much like her recent tabloid exploits on the streets of Los Angeles.

She walked through her dance moves with little enthusiasm. It appeared she had forgotten the entire art of lip-synching and looked embarrassingly out of shape given her once-taut frame.

Even the celebrity- studded audience seemed bewildered. 50 Cent looked at Spears with a confused expression; Diddy, her new best friend, was expressionless.

Her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake and R&B star Rihanna were the big winners.

Timberlake took four awards, including top male artist, while Rihanna scooped video of the year for Umbrella.

Meanwhile, Beyonce and Shakira won Most Earthshattering Collaboration for Beautiful Liar. Beyonce’s shimmering gold dress barely contained her top; immediately after picking up her trophy, she asked an assistant backstage to help fix her dress, apparently to prevent a wardrobe malfunction.