Singer Fergie has blasted Britney Spears critics following her lackluster performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, insisting they should leave her alone.
The Black Eyed Peas star believes Spears and her troubled actress pal Lindsay Lohan are still a vulnerable target for the media despite trying to seek help for their troubles.
She says, "They're young. Leave them alone. If they want to get better, they're going to get better on their own. If somebody is going to change, they have to want to do it themselves.
"I think it is really unfair to them when they are trying to get help. We're all watching as a nation and commenting day by day on their rehabilitation. It's not fair. You're supposed to have a sanctuary, a place where you can go and not be pressured every day."
Spears and Lohan have both spent time in rehab.