Britney denies 'X Factor' audition walkout: 'I'm having the best time'
Published May 25 2012, 05:08 BST | By Kate Goodacre
Britney Spears has played down reports that she walked out of the first session of X Factor USA auditions for season two.The Femme Fatale singer was said to have disappeared from the judges' table towards the end of the first half of tryouts in Texas on Thursday (May 24), missing up to four contestants' performances. Some reports claimed that Spears had become upset when a contestant performed a bad rendition of 'Hold It Against Me'.
© Twitter/thexfactorusa
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Spears wrote on her official Twitter page: "#Britneywalksoff??? LOL was just taking a little break people. I am having the BEST time!!!"
Her account appeared to be corroborated by E! News's Marc Malkin, who tweeted from the Frank Erwin Centre in Austin: "#britneyspears did not walk off the stage. nowhere near as dramatic as others r (sic) reporting."
© WENN / Dan Jackman/WENN.com
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Spears and Demi Lovato - the other new addition to the X Factor USA panel - were said to have had a difference of opinion over the first contestant.
In audio from the auditions obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Spears compared one contestant positively to Justin Bieber.
Lovato told the same contestant that while she felt he had "a great voice", he needed to find out what would make him stand out from his peers.
"I think you just have to find out what makes you special and what separates you from all the other teenage boys in this industry," she is quoted as saying.
© Twitter/thexfactorusa
© Twitter/thexfactorusa
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Lovato also teased returning panel members Simon Cowell and LA Reid, reportedly saying that Cowell was "old and impatient" after he pressed her to make a decision on a contestant and calling him "grandpa" as they made their way into the venue.
Reid wrote on his Twitter page: "Day 1 @TheXFactorUSA and I have already been cut to shreds by @ddlovato. Let the games begin!"
Cowell himself posted a tweet at the end of the day's session reading: "One of the best audition days we have ever done."
The X Factor USA returns later this year on Fox.
Photo gallery - Judges arrive for the X Factor auditions in Texas:
Copyright: Arnold Wells
Britney Spears arriving at The X Factor USA's Texas auditions at the Frank Erwin Center.
I expected her to crumble under the pressure but from initial reports she seems to be doing rather well. She seems confident and looks like she is enjoying herself. Hope she keeps it up in the live shows.
May 26th 2012 at 1:00am
STAGED! (If she did)
May 25th 2012 at 3:27pm
O dear shes started to have seizures even before the show is broadcast
May 25th 2012 at 1:42pm
Of course for 5 million she is entitled to leave when ever she wants and miss auditions. It's not like they paid her 10 million, now then she might take it more serious.
May 25th 2012 at 1:34pm
They paid her $15 million!
May 25th 2012 at 3:03pm
...then I got nothing.
May 25th 2012 at 4:17pm
The media are out to get her regardless of whether she does well or not...
May 25th 2012 at 1:04pm