Annette Funicello has passed away on Monday at the age of 70, and Britney Spears thinks that's "great". The original Mouseketeer died of complications from multiple sclerosis in a California hospital after battling the disease for twenty years.

Funicello was surrounded by her family at the Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield when she was taken off life support. She went public with her illness in 1992, and just recently slipped into a coma.

When asked by a TMZ paparazzo what she thought about Funicello's death, Spears, who was also a famous Mouseketeer, just smiled and replied, "I think that's great".

It was obvious, though, that Spears just didn't understand the question. She immediately took to her Twitter to explain her bizarre reaction.

She wrote: "Misheard a question I was asked earlier by press while I was out and about. I am DEVASTATED to hear about the passing of Annette Funicello."

"She was a role model for me during my days as a Mouseketeer."

And she was right. Funicello was indeed a model Disney star in her youth.

The former child performer was cast on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1955 when she was just 12 years old. As the most popular Mouseketeer, Funicello was the only one who remained under contract to Disney studio even after she left the show, appearing on several TV shows, such as "Zorro," "The Shaggy Dog" and "Babes in Toyland."

Her popularity even soared higher in the 1960s when she starred with teen idol Frankie Avalon in quite a few "Beach Party" movies, including "Bikini Beach," "Beach Blanket Bingo" and "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini." She was also successful as a recording star with a string of hit singles like "Pineapple Princess" and "Tall Paul."

She was diagnosed with MS in 1987, but only announced it to the public in 1992 to counter rumours that her ability to walk was impaired by alcoholism. She established the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders later that year.

Walt Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, has fond memories of the beloved actress, saying, "Everyone who knew Annette loved and respected her. She was one of the loveliest people I've ever known, and was always so kind to everyone. She was also the consummate professional and had such great loyalty to my father. Annette will always be very special to me and [husband] Ron."

Funicello is survived by her second husband, Glen Holt, and her three children from her first marriage.