Lindsay Lohan sues Pitbull

Lindsay Lohan has just sued the rapper Pitbull for a line in his mega-hit, "Give Me Everything," for a disparaging lyric about her.

Rebecca Black Legal Battle: How Much Money Is at Stake?

Rebecca Black’s video for “Friday” is no longer available on the site that made her a viral sensation in March. Earlier this week, the video was made available on Youtube with a $2.99 rental fee, and later removed altogether.

The video and song are at the center of a three-way legal battle among Black’s lawyers, the producers who say they wrote the song, and the studio Black’s parents hired to record it.

So how much money is at stake?

Joan Jett sues over planned Runaways tribute

Joan Jett loves rock and roll, but not on a tribute album she says an ex-employee put together without her permission.

The “I Love Rock N' Roll” singer-guitarist and 1970s bandmate Cherie Currie sued Thursday to try to stop the June 28 release of “Take It or Leave It: A Tribute to the Queens of Noise,” an intended homage to the Runaways, the punk bank that launched their careers and helped light a path for other brash, hard-edged female rock groups. 

The two-disc album features Runaways songs covered by artists ranging from the all-woman Japanese pop-punk band Shonen Knife to David Johansen, of the 1970s glam-rock pacesetters the New York Dolls, according to the website of the label releasing it, Main Man Records. The group was best known for such tracks as “Cherry Bomb” and “Queens of Noise.”

But the lawsuit says the independent Main Man Records label used their names to promote the album without their say-so and that a Main Man staffer who once worked at Jett's record label used that connection to imply the project had her blessing. 

Main Man didn't immediately respond to email and Twitter messages. No working telephone number could be found for Main Man or Jett's former employee. 

While the lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, Jett and Currie ultimately just “want them to stop,” said their lawyer, Oren J. Warshavsky. “This isn't about money. This is strictly about preserving reputation and quality that both Joan and Cherie are known for.” 

Formed in 1975, the Runaways made a splash with brash, raw songs, a rebellious attitude and a sound that blended punk and heavy metal. The group disbanded in 1979, but the 2010 movie “The Runaways,” starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, reignited interest. Jett and Currie, who was the group's lead singer for a time, have done some reunion performances in recent years. 

Jett went on to form another band, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and score hits including “I Love Rock N' Roll,” “Bad Reputation” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” She also has appeared onstage in “The Rocky Horror Show” and in various movies, including 1987's “Light of Day,” co-starring Michael J. Fox and Gena Rowlands.

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Raunchy videos set to be banned before 9pm in the UK

Raunchy music videos by the likes of Rihanna and Christina Aguilera will be banned before 9pm under plans to be unveiled next week.

Adverts that use sex to sell will also be banned from sites near schools.

Pop videos in which pop stars flaunt their sexuality are also to be given cinema-style age certificates.

Raunchy: Christina Aguilera shocked audiences with her sexually-charged routines when she appeared on X-Factor 

The proposals are contained in a hard-hitting report by Reg Bailey, the first male chief executive of the Mothers’ Union. 

Ministers are expected to adopt the radical proposals to put a stop to the creeping sexualisation of children.

Musician Coalition Continues to Protest Grammy Category Changes

Nekesa Mumbi Moody of the Associated Press is reporting that a coalition of musicians is demanding that the Recording Academy restore more than 30 categories cut from the Grammy Awards, alleging that the reductions unfairly target ethnic music and were done without the input of its thousands of members. A protest was planned Thursday in Beverly Hills, Calif., at an academy board meeting.

It is part of a campaign by those upset by last month's decision to reduce the Grammy fields, which this year totaled 109, to 78. The academy announced the changes April 6; the move came after a more-than-yearlong examination of the awards structure, the first in the Grammys' 50-plus-year history.

Grammy President and CEO Neil Portnow said at the time that the changes would make the Grammys more competitive, and the awards more coveted. He also said that the changes would be in effect for the 2012 Grammys. He urged dissenters to work with the academy, which would examine the effect of the changes for the 2013 awards. Protesters are calling for Portnow's resignation after he said that the changes were set in stone, when in fact there is an opportunity for the changes to be reversed.

Rihanna's 'S&M' Renamed 'Come On' In U.K.

Rihanna's "S&M" has already created quite a stir with its lyrics, which were deemed too hot for daytime play by BBC Radio 1, and with its kinky, candy-colored music video, which was reportedly banned in 11 different countries.

And now it seems that even the song's title is giving some folks fits ... including Rihanna herself.

It all starts with the brand-new U.K. Top 40 Singles chart, which is compiled by the British-based Official Charts Company and unveiled every Sunday on Radio 1. In this week's chart, "S&M" officially debuts, but, strangely enough, it does so with the title "Come On." It's not clear who made the change — the OCC, the BBC or perhaps even Rihanna's record label, Island Def Jam — or even why, but that hardly mattered to RiRi, who took to her Twitter account to express her outrage.

"Are you f---ing kidding me??? I'm on it!" she wrote in one tweet after being asked by a fan about the new title. When asked by another fan if she was OK with the change, she replied, "Absolutely Not!"

A spokesperson for the OCC wasn't aware of the "S&M" flap when contacted by MTV News, but did point out that, on the version of the Top 40 that appears on the organization's Web site, the song retained its original title.

An e-mail to BBC Radio 1 seeking comment on the matter was not responded to by press time, nor were e-mails sent to Rihanna's reps. In the latest edition of the U.S. singles chart — the Billboard Hot 100 — the song sits at #66 ... under its original title.

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Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" criticized for racist lyrics

"Pop icon Lady Gaga can`t seem to catch a break with her recently released song "Born This Way". First she was accused of sounding too much like Christina Aguilera`s in `Beautiful` and then of borrowing the idea and lyrics from Carl Bean`s `Born this Way` and now some Arizona Latino groups are chiming in with their opinion.

Organizations like Chicanos Unidos Arizona and MEChA do not like Lady Gaga`s use of the words `Chola` and `Orient` in her lyrics, viewing both as being racist and derogatory.

The word chola according to the critics refers to Latina girls in gangs, Latinas from the barrio who have a certain look about them and conjure very negative stereotypes."

"No matter gay, straight or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I`m on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I`m on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave"

As an Hispanic liberal who has been writing essays supporting gay rights for twelve years, I agree with the pro-gay sentiments of this song. But just because a song has life-affirming lyrics it doesn`t necessarily means it`s a great work of art. Lady Gaga`s new single has no subtlety or nuance, it sounds like something that a beauty queen who yearns for world peace would write.

Are Latinos supposed to be grateful that a white superstar, born of privilege, included a racist shout out to our community? Not all Latino ladies are "cholas" in the barrio, some of them are teachers, writers, engineers and nurses and doctors.

Don`t waste your hard-earned money downloading "Born This Way", if you want to hear a great song with great lyrics give Christina Aguilera`s "Beautiful" a spin.

Lady Gaga should apologize to Hispanics, Christina Aguilera, Carl Bean and pop music fans for her execrable song, and she should immediately pull her song from the market.

"Born This Way" makes Debby Boone`s "You Light Up My Life" seem like the greatest song in the history of pop music.

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Rihanna's New Video too Racy for TV--Banned in 11 Countries

Rihanna is one sexy bitch, but apparently she's too sexy to be on TV.

RiRi's new music video S&M has been axed from the BBC's daytime radio playlist in Britain and the video is banned in 11 countries!

And get this, BBC bosses in the U.K. have refused to allow DJs on its flagship station Radio 1 to play the song before 7pm!

A spokesman tells the publication, "We are waiting for an edited version before deciding whether it will be played in the daytime."

Most countries (including the US) are now asking you to verify that you're over 18 years old just to watch the clip on YouTube.

So what does this mean for Rihanna? More press of course! You know what they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity!

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Jennifer Lopez Accused of Copying Kat DeLuna's Music Video

Jennifer Lopez has been accused of stealing ideas for her new "On the Floor" music video from a promo by R&B singer Kat DeLuna, just a week after fans pointed out similarities between the two songs. The "Jenny From the Block" hitmaker debuted her new single last week, January 18, and critics have claimed the lyrics and harmonies are similar to DeLuna's track "Party O'Clock", which was released in Europe in November 2010. Both tracks were worked on by the same music producer, RedOne.

Images from Lopez's accompanying video have now emerged online and DeLuna's fans claim there are striking similarities to the "Party O'Clock" promo. Lopez's costumes and dance moves are said to mirror DeLuna's in the new clip. DeLuna has spoken out about the video furore and accused Lopez of "taking away" her ideas.

She tells the New York Daily News, "I've seen this before, where the more established artist tries to take the vision and artistic ideas away from an emerging artist, and assumes no one will notice because of their bigger shadow. Luckily, my loyal fans and the power of the internet have let the 'Kat' out of the bag."

But DeLuna insists she won't be taking any action against the superstar, adding, "Business is business."

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Did Lady GaGa plagiarize “Born this Way”?

Britney Spears recently came under fire when American country duo The Bellamy Brothers accused her of copying a line from one of their songs for her chart topper “Hold It Against Me”, and now it looks like Lady GaGa is about to end up in the same boat, but this time, the offence is much more severe than just one vague pick-up line.

Earlier today GaGa unveiled the official lyrics and production credits for her new single “Born this Way”, listing herself as the sole songwriter. The gay rights anthem contained lines like “No matter gay, straight or bi / lesbian, transgendered life…” and “I’m beautiful in my own way / ‘Cause God makes no mistakes / I’m the right track, baby / I was born this way.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like GaGa’s “Born this Way” was her bright idea at all.

A strikingly similar song titled “I was Born this Way” was released back in 1975 by Motown artist Valentino, and is regarded as the first ever ‘coming out’ song. It was then re-recorded and released by Carl Bean, becoming a disco hit. Over the years it’s popped up again over the place, making an appearance on Pet Shop Boys album and being featured in the popular independent film Not Another Gay Teen Movie.

Check out some of the lyrics to “I was Born this Way” below, and then take a listen to Carl Bean and Valentino’s individual versions of the hit and see what you think.

I’m happy, I’m carefree and I’m gay

I was born this way

You call me strange ’cause you don’t understand

God’s role for me in life’s overall plan

I’ve learned to hold my head up high

Not in scorn nor disgrace

Doin’ my thing individually

Entwined with this human race

Now I won’t judge you – don’t you judge me

We’re all the way nature meant us to be

This doesn’t seem like some vague coincidence — the song is almost identical in both concept and lyrics to the “Born this Way” that Lady GaGa tweeted out today.

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Miley Cyrus Two-Time Worst Influence Award Winner

Each year they ascribe the title of Worst Influence to a celebrity, and AOL’s JSYK website has named Miley Cyrus to the top of the list for a second year in a row.

The “Hannah Montana” babe beat Lindsay Lohan, Demi Lovato, Kanye West, and Chace Crawford to end up in the dubious #1 slot.

There’s no doubt Miley’s scandalous salvia smoking session and her almost-flashing photographs from a gay bar had something to do with the ranking.

Cyrus garnered 58% of JSYK’s 99,000 votes, most of which came from their target 9-to-15-year-old demographic.

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Miley Cyrus Vs. Nicki Minaj: Who Has The Best Verse?

By now, we’ve all seen Miley Cyrus‘ famous video of her taking a hit out of that giant bong like a champ. I’ve had a lot of people ask me what it was she was mumbling when she starts trippin’ hard. She’s actually attempting to spit Nicki Minaj‘s verse on Trey Songz‘ hit, “Bottoms Up”.

By now, we’ve all seen Miley Cyrus‘ famous video of her taking a hit out of that giant bong like a champ. I’ve had a lot of people ask me what it was she was mumbling when she starts trippin’ hard. She’s actually attempting to spit Nicki Minaj‘s verse on Trey Songz‘ hit, “Bottoms Up”.

The other night I decided to let you decide who does the best rendition of Minaj’s flow. Check out the audio of Nicki Minaj vs. Stoned Miley NOW!

Trey Songz - New Music - More Music Videos

New Hungarian Media Authority Doesn't Like Old Ice-T Lyrics

A radio station in Hungary is under investigation by the National Media and Communications Authority for playing the 1993 Ice-T song "Warning (It's On)," because the lyrics "could influence the development of minors in a negative way."

Yesterday, Hungary assumed the European Union presidency — a post it will hold for the next six months. At the same time, it created the National Media and Communications Authority with the goal of ostensibly cleaning up the airwaves for young ears. The authority said "Warning" could have legally been played only after 9pm. Tilos Radio said the NMCA was investigating them for playing "Warning" at 5:30 pm in September.

The intro to Ice-T's 1993 album "Home Invasion" is what apparently set the NMCA off:

Attention!
At this moment you are now listening to an Ice-T LP
If you are offended by words like
Shit, bitch, fuck, dick, ass, hole, cunt,
Dirty bitch, low motherfucker, nigga, hooker, slut, tramp,
Dirty low slut tramp bitch hole, nigga fuck shit,
Whateva..
Take the tape out now!
This is not a pop album
And by the way
Suck my motherfuckin' dick"

The NMCA's first day of existence has already pissed off the rest of Europe, and it's new 'only play songs with dirty lyrics after 9pm' law "endangers editorial independence and media pluralism," according to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The new law states that anyone caught violating "public interest, public morals or order" could be fined up to $955,000. Britain's Foreign Office issued a statement on December 23, expressing concern over Hungary's new media authority:

Freedom of the press is at the heart of a free society. We hope that the Hungarian Government will soon resolve this issue satisfactorily and that it will not impact adversely on the successful delivery of the Hungarian EU Presidency.

The only clear winner here is Ice-T, whose album intro from almost 18 years ago is back in the spotlight. Where's Tipper Gore on this?

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Stunt Queen: Lauryn Hill Makes Brooklyn Fans Wait Hours, Then Shades The Agitated Crowd

Let’s see. If you a person attending a Lauryn Hill live performance (bless your heart and ear drums) chances are you are apart of the small percentage of dedicated and forgiving fans who remain in her corner despite her vocal shortcomings as well as multiple personalities. Not only do you deserve a cookie but a glass of milk would be cool.

Before kicking her show a couple nights ago in Brooklyn off Ms. Hill addressed her tardiness, justifying it as her being “worth the wait.” Girl, good day! This is not 1999. Your presence is not a present going into 2011.

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Grammy nominations 2011: Katy Perry uses blasphemy after 'Teenage Dream' Album of the Year nod

Apparently using blasphemy as entertainment isn't so cheap after all.

Katy Perry was so surprised by her Grammy nomination for Album of the Year for "Teenage Dream" that she issued a religious expletive when the host of "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!" questioned her during the show Wednesday night.

"Are you feeling some Grammy love tonight?" LL Cool J asked Perry, who was seated in the audience wearing a revealing metallic gold dress.

"Hell yes!" she blurted out, before adding, "Excuse me, sorry CBS."

She then held her hands up in a prayer motion and thanked her peers for the nomination.

During the concert, the 25-year-old pop star didn't shy away from impious behavior, engaging in some graphic choreography while performing "California Gurls." While singing the line "so hot/will melt your Popsicle," she gesticulated wildly towards her groin area.

Pulling an about-face after the ceremony, Perry ended her post-Grammy tweet fest with the simple hashtag "#GOD."

Perry's behavior comes as a surprise after she tweeted over the summer that "using blasphemy as entertainment is as cheap as a comedian telling a fart joke."

The post came after Lady Gaga's sexy quasi-religious video for "Alejandro" -- in which she wore a latex nun's habit and was ravaged by a group of scantily clad men -- was released, though Perry denied the two events were related.


Katy Perry performs 'California Gurls' during the Grammy nominations concert. (AP)

Perry, who was raised by Christian pastors and first started singing in church, said she took issue with blasphemous behavior regardless of the perpetrator.

"You know, when Madonna was on a cross, and sometimes my boyfriend will say things that are little bit 'eh' for me from where I come from," she told a French radio station.

Incidentally, Gaga is also nominated for Album of the Year for “Fame Monster,” as are Arcade Fire for "The Suburbs," Eminem for "Recovery” and Lady Antebellum for "Need You Know."

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Chris Brown & Lady GaGa Snubbed At 2010 AMA?

It looks like the American Music Awards didn’t need an interruption from Kanye West to generate a scandal. It is being reported that both Chris Brown and Lady GaGa were snubbed at last evening’s event and not given their trophies because of their failure to attend the ceremony.

According to Neon Limelight, Brown’s award for ‘Best R&B/Soul Male’ was given to Usher instead, although his name was clearly written on the prompter as the winner. Furthermore, GaGa’s manager, reportedly Troy Carter, claimed that Justin Bieber was awarded her title of ‘Artist of the Year’.

Interestingly, during Usher’s peculiar acceptance speech after collecting trophy for ‘Best R&B/Soul Male’ he made sure to highlight that Brown was “home”. Check out all the details below:

Neon Limelight discusses Brown’s snug (read from bottom to top):

GaGa’s manager alleged direct message to her friend Israel Hernandez:

If this is indeed true then it simply another example of the industry politics that occur behind the scenes. All of these shows (including the Grammy Awards) are riddled with conflict and the rightful winners of these trophies are very rarely awarded. Kanye West wasn’t joking when he through his tantrum at last year’s MTV VMA.

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Nadine Coyle 'Attacks' Cheryl For Miming

Nadine Coyle has apparently taken a swipe at her Girls Aloud bandmate, Cheryl Cole, insisting she would never mime during a performance.

As we previously reported, Chezza has come under fire for allegedly miming her new single Promise This on The X Factor's Sunday results show, and now Nadz has claimed she won't perform on the ITV show because she wouldn't be able to sing live.

Coyle told The Metro: "I’m not doing Strictly Come Dancing or X Factor for this campaign. I only want to do live shows. I think the problem, well not the problem as such, but what happens with TV shows is you can’t always do things live."

"You can’t really get the full effect and with Insatiable being such a big song and because I’m just starting off I want it to be all about doing stuff live. I would rather go back to when I started doing music in Ireland and it was all live. I mean you just don’t mime."

She added: "So I’m going back to my roots to do that as nerve racking as it is, because you’re worrying about a 12-piece band and you have that ‘ahh anything can happen, it’s live’ feeling, you know?’

Despite not being present at The X Factor for Cheryl's performance, it has now emerged that unlike the rest of Girls Aloud, she wasn't invited.

The Insatiable singer has told The Mirror that Cole 'forgot' to post her XF invite, telling the newspaper: "I didn't know it was happening.. I didn't even know about it. But it's fine, really it is."

She added: "I really want to see them this week. Fingers crossed, I'm hoping we can. I guess it's long-overdue."

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Kanye West's album art: Banned in the U.S.A.? Perhaps 'banned' isn't the right word

Superstar rapper Kanye West has become a master of all media in creating anticipation for his upcoming release, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," unleashing songs free to the Web, conceiving show-stopping television appearances and prepping his first short film. Sometimes, as appears to be the case today, the artist's unpredictability has even caught his label off-guard, as the outspoken artist took to the Web and declared that the artwork for his upcoming album had been rejected for the U.S. market.

The artist has also been regularly baring his soul on Twitter, offering his thoughts on rugs, women's fashions, last year's MTV Video Music Awards fiasco with Taylor Swift, the overuse of the term "LOL" and plenty, plenty, plenty more. On Sunday, the artist utilized Twitter once more, declaring that his desired album cover for "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" was "banned in the USA!!!"

Kanye wrote, "They don't want me chilling on the couch with my phoenix!" and revealed a piece of graphic artwork in which a naked representation of the artist was in a sexually suggestive position with the mythological firebird in female form. In a follow-up tweet, West wrote, "In the '70s album covers had actual nudity... It's so funny that people forget that... Everything has been so commercialized now."

A source familiar with West's discussions with Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam on the cover art agreed to speak solely on the condition of anonymity, proclaiming that he did "not want to lose my job over this." The source seemed to indicate that the debate over the artwork was not one that was cut-and-dry. West was strongly urged to use alternate art, the source conceded, but added that West "was told if he wanted to do it, the label would stand behind him."

At issue, said the high-placed industry source, was whether or not mass-market retailers such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart would carry an album featuring venomous nudes, and one that would no doubt inspire controversy. Though sales at mass merchants have been declining in recent years, data from Nielsen SoundScan for the last two years still had the likes of Best Buy and Wal-Mart accounting for at least 10% or more of physical CD sales.

A potential boycott from a major retailer would no doubt have a massive impact on West's album sales, especially during the holiday season. "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is currently scheduled for a Nov. 22 release in the U.S. Though retail reps were unavailable for comment on Sunday evening, follow-up tweets from West seemed to indicate that concerns over retail acceptance played some part in his refusal to alter his intended cover.

Wrote West, "In all honesty ... I really don't be thinking about Wal-Mart when I make my music or album covers #Kanyeshrug!"

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Lady Gaga Challenged To $1 Million Singing Competition

Lady Gaga has been challenged to a televised sing-off by Los Angeles artist Alisa Apps, with the winner taking home a cash prize at least $1 million. The competition would take place at New York's Madison Square Garden or London's O2 Arena, with each singer performing a series of songs.

"I feel sorry for Lady Gaga -- she's just a plastic doll generated by the music money marketing machine," Apps states in a release. "This contest gives people a chance to choose which they prefer -- plastic or real."

Lady Gaga has not responded to the challenge thus far. While Apps has yet to a release her debut album, a clip of the singer performing her track "How Do I Make Right" has earned 1.2 million views on YouTube.

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Miley Cyrus 'Who Owns My Heart' Video Blasted By Parents Television Council

Miley Cyrus' new single, "Who Owns My Heart," may question who the pop star's latest boy toy is but the video certainly declares that the teen singer is embracing a sexier persona. However, some believe the 17-year-old singer's racy image is damaging to her legions of young fans.

In the clip, a scantily-clad Cyrus gets dolled up in her room and shows a lot of leg while grooving in the backseat of a car on her way to a rager at a mansion. The teen starlet then spends most of the video dancing in tiny shorts, a revealing halter, big hair and heels and partying until the wee hours.

Tim Winter, who serves as president of the Parents Television Council, told TMZ that the "Hannah Montana" star's sexed-up clip relays the wrong message to her teen following.

"It is unfortunate that she would participate in such a sexualized video like this one," Winter said. "It sends messages to her fanbase that are diametrically opposed to everything she has done up to this point. Miley built her fame and fortune entirely on the backs of young girls, and it saddens us that she seems so eager to distance herself from that fanbase so rapidly."

This isn't the first time the Disney star has faced controversy in her attempts to break away from her squeaky-clean, teen idol status. Her pole-dancing move at the at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards grabbed headlines and her latest LP, Can't Be Tamed, features a much more vampy persona than her "Hannah Montana" alter ego.

"I'm a completely different person [than when I released 2008's Breakout]. I'm much more confident. You know, I've always been a confident person, but I was going through a lot then," Cyrus told MTV News in June. "There's so many people in your life telling you who you should and shouldn't be," Cyrus said. "And that's what Tamed [is] about. It's about being who you are to the fullest. And now I know who that is."

The group has also recently slammed the Britney/Brittany "Glee" episode.

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