BRITNEY SPEARS - SPEARS FIRES PUBLICIST

SPEARS FIRES PUBLICIST

BRITNEY SPEARS has fired longtime publicist LESLIE SLOANE-ZELNICK and taken charge of her own public relations according to media reports in the US. Sloane-Zelnick has been on hiatus since the beginning of September (06), after Spears insisted on handling the PR duties surrounding the birth of her second son SUTTON PIERCE, who was born on 12 September (06). Spears unsuccessfully orchestrated an interview with American TODAY SHOW host MATT LAUER in June (06), where she wore a revealing top and chewed gum during her appearance. Sources tell entertainment website Radar Online that Spears did manage to negotiate a lucrative deal for the exclusive rights to the first photos of Sutton. Although OK! magazine reportedly bid close to $2 million (GBP1.1 million) for the first photos, Spears turned down the deal and decided to go with US publication People. People also published the first photos of her first child, SEAN PRESTON, as well as the pictures from her wedding to KEVIN FEDERLINE.