Britney Spears, victim of the recession?

First, Michael Jackson is almost forced to auction off his personal effects and now this?

According to People, the slumping economy is threatening Britney Spears' Circus tour. Britney's father, Jamie Spears, asked for court permission to add more shows, but an L.A. Superior Court commissioner said he'd have to wait and see.

"It hasn't yet been determined whether it's feasible to expand tours to the Europe or Australia legs," L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz reportedly told Spears. "That will be determined in the future after everyone's seen the analysis, in terms of the economy and value of the dollar."

And financial woes are not the first hardship to rock the Circus tour.

Britney Spears made headlines last week for her -- er -- unique behavior during a sold-out concert in Vancouver; she walked off stage, mid-performance.

According to the Vancouver Sun, an announcement in the arena blamed Brit's departure on smoke coming from the audience: "It's become uncomfortable and unsafe for the performers, including Ms. Spears."

When Brit Brit returned, she reportedly echoed the statement, saying, "Vancouver, don't smoke weed." Her website blamed the peculiar series of events on a "ventilation issue."

-- Stephanie Lysaght

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Photo credit: WireImage