Britney SpearsBritney Spears’ first show of her 14-gig Australian tour was a bigger spectacle than expected.

A review in the Sunday Telegraph claims fans stormed out halfway through the show in Perth in an outrage over her lip-synching. But today, News.com.au filed an article giving the other side of the story: that one Australian reporter fabricated the whole thing.

It’s a case of “you had to be there”, but for Spears, it’s still hurtful. Paul Danity, her Australian tour promoter, says she is “extremely upset” and has been holed up in her Perth hotel since the incident on Friday night.

Reports were circulating the fans walked out of the show, despite having paid up to $1,500 for tickets and driving more than two hours to get there.

“It’s the biggest lie I’ve ever heard,” Dainty told The Australian.

“I’m so angry. We can take heat if there’s something wrong and people can review shows badly — that’s something you have to live with — but to say people stormed out of the show was an absolute fabrication.”

The Perth Burswood Dome released a statement in Spears’ defense.

“Last night’s concert (Friday) saw record crowds turn out for her first performance in Perth and from Burswood’s perspective the event was a huge success.”

Adam Leber, Spears’ manager, took to Twitter to support Spears and her followers.

“Its unfortunate that one journalist in Perth didn’t enjoy the show last night. Fortunately the other 18,272 fans in attendance did. – Adam,” he wrote.

But Australia isn’t letting her off the hook that easily.

The Sydney Confidential reported that Spears’ lip-synched tour has inspired a move for legislation to require artists to reveal to ticket-buyers if they plan to mime their concert. China has already introduced a “name and shame” policy following the lip-synching debacle at the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony.

Virginia Judge, Fair Trading Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, told the Daily Telegraph she would not tolerate a “Mickey Mouse performance.”

“Let’s be clear – live means live. If you are spending up to $200 I think you deserve better than a film clip,” Judge said. “The NSW Government would be happy to look at options, such as a disclaimer on a ticket which would warn consumers a performance is pre-recorded.”

Steve Dixon weighed in on the opposite side, saying people pay for the show as much as the music.

“This is a pop spectacular, this is a showband show. You come for the experience,” he told the Telegraph. “There is a lot to see about this show, there’s nothing like this in the world. Britney Spears will entertain you, that’s what people come for. We absolutely give them a show.”

Spears’ has three shows in Melbourne this week, and then heads to Sydney before wrapping up the tour in Adelaide at the end of the month.






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