The following column is not for sensitive ears: Britney Spears, she of the trashy ex-husband whose wardrobe only consisted of wife-beater T-shirts and backwards baseball caps, was photographed this week stepping out of an automobile with her skirt hiked up.

Miss Spears decided to go out this night sans panties.

You read that correctly. She was ever-loving nekkid. Paparazzi captured the pop star in all her glory, from every conceivable angle, and the resulting pictures were uploaded onto the Internet for everyone to see, including - I'm sure - Brit-Brit's mom, her dad, her grandmother, her pastor, her hairdresser, her dog (if her dog knew how to use a computer), her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, her family's friends, her sister, her maids, her ex-husband Kevin Federline (if K-Fed knew how to use a computer)Š.you get the picture.

Oh. And her two sons. Wonder how that conversation is going to go in a few years when her two babies are all grown up and someone shows them a photo of mom looking one beer shy of having consumed an entire six-pack wearing nary a stitch beneath her too-short skirt?

It used to be:

&#8220I see London, I see France, I see so-and-so's underpants.”

Now it's:

&#8220I see London, I see France, I seeŠOH MY GOD! PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!”

It used to be:

Mom to child: &#8220Make sure you have a clean pair of underwear on. In case you're in an accident.”

Now it's:

Mom to child: &#8220Dear, don't forget to wear you're underwear. In case you're in an accident.”

Since when did undergarments become optional? Especially for women? Especially for famous women? Especially for famous women named Britney Spears with legions of pre-teen and teenaged girl fans, who look up to her and want to be like her?

Lord help us if this trend catches on.

&#8220She's a beautiful girl and now that she's single and she's having fun, I think she's just trying to express herself,” Amanda Sanders, a New York-based celebrity image consultant told USA Today. &#8220Unfortunately, it's the wrong message that's coming across. And the shame is she was really such a role model.”

Emphasis on the word &#8220was.”

Kevin Pearcey is Group Managing Editor of Greenville Newspapers, LLC. He can be reached by phone at 383-9302, ext. 136 or by email at: editor@greenville.advocate.com.