Britney Spears has revealed she ‘absolutely hated’ her time as a judge on The X Factor USA when she appeared on the show in 2012.
Singer Britney, 41, signed up to appear on series two of the show along with Demi Lovato with the pair replacing season one judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul.
But pop star Britney – who also starred on the judging panel with Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid – said she was not cut out for the job which involved acting ‘sceptical for eight straight hours’.
She said she decided to take on the judging role at the time to find some professional focus.
The star explained in her memoir The Woman in Me, released on Tuesday 24 October: ‘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.
Not for her: Britney Spears ‘absolutely hated’ her time as a judge on The X Factor USA when she appeared on the show in 2012 (seen while filming The X Factor USA in 2012)
All stars: Singer Britney, now 41, was signed up to appear on series two of the show along with (L-R) fellow judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid (pictured in 2012)
‘I think a lot of people are really professional on TV, like Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani. When the camera s 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.
‘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 sceptical for eight straight hours while judging on TV? Uh, no thank you. I absolutely hated it.’
It comes after The X Factor boss Simon Cowell begged Britney to work with him again 10 years after they both sat on the judging panel of the American version of the show.
The music mogul, 63, made a public plea for Britney to consider appearing on one of his shows now she is free of her conservatorship, describing the ‘talented’ star as having ‘lovely ideas about how to launch someone’s career’.
Not her bag: Britney said she was not cut out for the job which involved acting ‘sceptical for eight straight hours’
He told E! News in November: ‘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.’
He added: ‘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.’
Britney was freed of her conservatorship in 2021, with her conservators previously having power over her financial and medical affairs, plus career decisions and major personal matters such as when she could see her teenage sons Sean, 18, and Jayden, 17.
Plea: It comes after The X Factor boss Simon Cowell begged Britney to work with him again 10 years after they both sat on the judging panel of the American version of the show (Simon pictured last month)
Performer Britney appeared on The X Factor during this time but is now free to make her own decision regarding her career.
It comes after Simon said there is a ‘decent chance’ of The X Factor returning in the UK or US in 2024.
The talent show judge is considering bringing the series back to TV screens, and he is said to be more inclined for the programme to head back Stateside, where Simon has a strong working relationship with NBC on America’s Got Talent.
Speaking about who the judges would be if he does decide to resurrect The X Factor, he said: ‘Industry insiders, such as A and R people, rather than artists because they are better judges of talent and less jealous of bright young artists.’