In Netflix’s new Tiger King series starring the walking meme Joe Exotic, viewers are taken through the cutthroat world of big cat breeding. One of the more “conventional” characters in the series is Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, who claims he has been supplying big cats to entertainment companies for years. Recently, one keen-eyed viewer noticed Doc in the background of a performance by Britney Spears at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards.
In the newly-resurfaced video, Spears performs her hit song “I’m a Slave 4 U” on September 6, 2001, while still at the top of her game. As the song begins, Spears emerges from a tiger cage with a big white tiger and Doc Antle himself. The entire performance features a tiger/jungle theme, with Spears and her backup dancers sporting tiger makeup and tattered green loincloths, assuredly much to the delight of Antle. As Spears and her dancers pull off their highly-choreographed moves, Antle just hangs out in the cage, petting his cat. The performance then ends with Spears ascending the stairs to the top of the cage, with Doc undoubtedly trying to sneak a peek up through the bars.
Watch Britney Spears’ 2001 VMA performance featuring Doc Antle.
Britney Spears – “I’m a Slave 4 U” – 2001 MTV Video Music Awards
[Video: MTV]
As millions of viewers become acquainted with the antics of the big cat world, there are bound to be plenty more videos featuring Doc or any of the other breeders. Many viewers were convinced that Spears sat next to big cat activist Carole Baskin at the 2002 VMAs, but Baskin’s representatives have since denied the rumor. Spears has made no comment on either appearance since Tiger King premiered on Netflix earlier this month.
[H/T NME]