‘Simon Cowell Reveals Why Britney Spears Was Unhappy Working With Him On The X Factor’

Britney Spears, now retired from her pop career, once sought to mentor aspiring artists. In 2012, she joined The X Factor as a judge alongside Simon Cowell but lasted only one season. In her memoir, she revealed that she absolutely hated the experience.

Why Britney Found Judging Challenging

In 2023, Spears released her memoir The Woman in Me, detailing her family struggles, conservatorship, and her relationship with Justin Timberlake. Among these revelations, she discussed her stint on The X Factor with Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, and Demi Lovato. Unlike Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani, Spears admitted she felt uncomfortable on camera and became extremely nervous during filming.

Maybe Im just not cut out for that anymore. Ive accepted that now and its okay. I can tell people who try to push me in that direction no. Ive been forced into things I didnt want to do and been humiliated. Its not my thing at this point. Now, if youve got me a cute cameo on a fun TV show where Im in and out in a day thats one thing, but to act skeptical for eight straight hours while judging on TV? Uh, no thank you. I absolutely hated it.

Simon Cowell Shares His Perspective

Simon Cowell spoke about Spears time on the show in an interview with The New York Times, revealing that she initially reached out to him about joining the judging panel. He recalled their first conversation:

Somebody said, Britney would be interested in working with you. And I said, Well, would she talk to me on a call? Because I thought, Its never going to happen. Yes, Friday night, 8 oclock. Shes going to call you. On the dot, she calls, and we spoke for two hours. She was so fun, engaged, passionate, interesting. She just really, really wants to do it, I think for the right reasons, which was to be a mentor.

Cowell added that their second conversation was even more impressive, noting her intelligence and enthusiasm. However, Spears struggled when auditions began, particularly with rejecting contestants and handling media attention at the press launch.

The Challenge of Being a Judge

Cowell explained that the difficulty of turning down hopeful participants is common for many celebrity judges. Despite this, he respected her feelings and offered her the option to leave if she didnt enjoy the role. Spending time with her off-set, he confirmed that she was unhappy during the show.

Cowells Continued Admiration for Spears

Even though Spears did not enjoy her time on the Fox reality competition, Cowell maintains a high opinion of her talents. In 2023, when there were talks of reviving The X Factor, Spears remained his top choice for the judges panel, highlighting her industry knowledge, performance skills, and ability to guide new talent.

Author: Sophia Brooks