The 'Gimme More' singer felt like she 'aged backwards' as she struggled to handle pressure in front of camera when sitting as one of the judges on Simon Cowell's talent show.
- Oct 25, 2023
AceShowbiz - Britney Spears didn't enjoy working as a judge on "The X Factor". The 41-year-old pop superstar was tapped for the show in 2012 working alongside show boss Simon Cowell and fellow judges Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid with the singer reportedly earning a massive $15 million to become the highest paid panelist in the show's history - however, Britney has admitted she felt "very, very nervous" about being on air and didn't enjoy the job.
"Feeling like I needed more direction, I decided to go back to work. I tried to occupy myself by being productive. I began appearing on more TV shows - including, in 2012, as a judge on 'The X Factor,' " Britney explained in her new memoir "The Woman in Me".
"I think a lot of people are really professional on TV, like Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani. When the camera is on them, they thrive. And that's great. I used to be able to do that when I was younger, but again, I feel like I age backwards when I'm afraid. And so I got to where I was very, very nervous if I knew I had to be on air, and I didn't like being nervous all day long."
Britney added, "Maybe I'm just not cut out for that anymore. I've accepted that now and it's okay. I can tell people who try to push me in that direction no. I've been forced into things I didn't want to do and been humiliated. It's not my thing at this point."
"Now, if you've got me a cute cameo on a fun TV show where I'm in and out in a day that's one thing, but to act skeptical for eight straight hours while judging on TV? Uh, no thank you. I absolutely hated it."
Britney only lasted for one season of the show and didn't return for the next series.
Simon Cowell recently opened up about how much he enjoyed working with the "Toxic" star - calling her "so talented" and "super smart" - and even suggested she returns to TV. He told E! News, "We spent so long on the phone talking about X Factor before we did it. There's a side of Britney a lot of people don't know. I mean, I was on the phone to her two or three hours every time."
"She was super smart, lovely ideas about how to launch someone else's career, which is critical if you're going to be a judge on one of these shows. So I had a fantastic relationship with her. If you're watching Britney and we make a show, please come back and do it with me. It would be amazing. I adore her. She really is interesting and she's so talented."
