Britney Spears Claims She Was 'Copying Shakira' In Viral Knife Dancing Video: 'Lighten Up' 

Pop star Britney Spears is telling her followers to "lighten up about the knives" and claiming that she really was just copying Shakiraafter all.

On Monday night, the 41-year-old pop star took to Instagram to share a video that featured her dancing with knives. The video immediately drew comparisons to Shakira, who danced with knives during her 2023 MTV Video Music Awards dance on September 12.

Although the "Toxic" singer told her fans the knives were fake, several followers felt that the "clink" of the knives proved that they were real and were even more concerned when she appeared to be sporting some new bruises the next day.

On Monday night, the Princess of Pop danced barefoot on the tiled floor of her living room as she waved two knives around in her hands. The clinking of the knives appeared to startle her small dogs, who scampered away when the two knives smacked against each other.

“I started playing in the kitchen with knives today ??‍♀️??‍♀️??‍♀️ !!! Don’t worry they are NOT real knives !!! Halloween is soon ??? !!!” Britney wrote in the caption, but fans weren’t so sure, especially given her second video posted a day later.

On Tuesday night, the “Oops!... I Did It Again” singer shared a video of her dancing barefoot in her living room in the same outfit without the knives in her hands.

Fans who swipe to the second slide can see that she now has a white bandage around her right wrist as well as a fresh cut on her upper thigh. She also has a bruise on her lower back, close to her hip.

Britney made no mention of the bruises or cuts in her caption, writing, “My ‘Pretty Woman’ top … kinda cool after my briefing on polka dots ???????? !!!! Swipe to see both !!!”

It is unclear at the time how Britney sustained her various injuries, although she did say that she was feeling “weaker” after losing “a lot” of weight in a deleted caption.

On Tuesday night, the "Overprotected" singer took to Instagram to share a video of her dancing in a white top, pink drawstring, and white boots. Fans have seen this outfit before. In a deleted caption, she referred to it as a "costume," writing:

“So yesterday I brought this outfit back … kinda like a costume I guess … I like it !!!! I never thought white would read well but it does … I’m not fishing for compliments !!! I realize I’ve been in my living room dancing … lights give me a horrible migraine after 20 years ? … I like to control the lights !!! I mean it is my f—ing head … am I suppose to TRUST ever again ??? Too many smiles always saying ‘Sorry we didn’t know!’ but oh well ??‍♀️??!!! I realize I’ve lost a lot of weight and my eyes aren’t as wide open !!! I feel weaker when I lose weight. I think I figured it out … lay around … be lazy … sleep all day … and you get really skinny … like some people I know !!! I can be like my mom now !!! I also realize that when you’ve been hurt by people you respect, the body reacts differently. Anxiety and nervousness which is a shame because those that did it to me are the most self centered ?!!! They love to listen to themselves talk for hours !!! Vanity haven superficial pieces of ?. I have people who I look up to and I’m thankful for their friendship. I have incredible gifted friends beside me every freakin’ day but I‘d be lying if I didn’t say to any b—- disrespecting me at any parties … I don’t forget !!!! Why ???? Cause I know my worth and learning to dance with fake knives at parties is a motherf—ing understatement !!! Ps don’t worry at all if I show up at any parties, we will have a very NICE TIME ???? !!! This was shot yesterday ? !!! Pssss here’s to a day with my dogs and doing absolutely nothing !!! Apologize for my ignorance … all I’ve ever known is to work … who would have thunk it ??? !!!???”

However, she has since edited her caption to say, “??? Lighten up about the knives I’m copying Shakira ? !!!”

On September 12, the "Hips Don't Lie" singer seemed to perform an Arabic dance known as the dance of the daggers at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. MTV later posted a clip of Shakira’s performance to their Instagram page.

In the caption, they wrote, “There’d have to be medical personnel on SITE if I tried to recreate @shakira’s knife dance ?? #VMAs.”