Posted on: Saturday, January 10, 2004

Britney wedding fuss annoying her homies

By Cain Burdeau
Associated Press

KENTWOOD, La. — Folks in Britney Spears' home town don't see the humor in the superstar's weekend wedding joke.

Spears' 55-hour marriage to Kentwood resident and childhood friend Jason Alexander has engulfed the town in an unwanted media frenzy and it has rekindled an old question: What's she done for Kentwood lately?

"It's embarrassing to have the worldwide media attention with the buildings in such rundown, decrepit conditions," said Tammy Shaffett, a co-owner of the Hair Studio on Avenue F, the main street that once had traffic and a movie theater.

The wedding had the makings of a great yarn. Alexander — a hulking former high school football player — and Spear jumped in a limousine and got hitched at a local quickie wedding chapel at 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

Hours later, the 22-year-olds renounced their wedding by calling it a prank that went too far, and wrote the whole thing off with an annulment. Joke over.

But the stunt turned into an embarrassment for Kentwood — population 2,200 — as Alexander returned home with a flock of paparazzi in tow.

Since getting home, the Southeastern Louisiana University junior was "kind of hibernating," said his father, Dennis Alexander.

The media hunt for Alexander overwhelmed Kentwood as reporters quizzed residents to find Spears' brief groom. Reporters staked out his family's home and police were called in two days in a row to disperse the crowd.

"Yesterday it really caused chaos," said Robert Alexander, Jason's grandfather. He said Dennis Alexander, an auto mechanic, had to close his garage Monday because of the intrusion.

Downtown, television satellite trucks set up near the main intersection, causing locals to rubberneck all day.

Some said they want to be proud of Spears and her success, but think the pop star hasn't shared her wealth with her hometown, which is languishing from a dying dairy farming industry.

"I wish the improvement of our town got as much attention as Britney Spears' wedding," said Dylea White, co-owner of the Hair Studio.

"She should give some of her money to the town. She should help out. I know if I had some of that money I would," said resident Heather Patterson.

Spears' publicist did not immediately return a telephone call for comment.