Why did Britney Spears hate The X Factor?

Britney Spears found judging The X Factor extremely nerve-wracking and disliked the difficult task of rejecting contestants, as detailed in her memoir.

Did Simon Cowell know Britney Spears disliked The X Factor?

Simon Cowell expressed surprise upon learning of Britney Spears' negative comments in her memoir about their time on The X Factor.

Who reached out first about Britney Spears joining The X Factor?

According to Simon Cowell, Britney Spears was the one who initiated contact about potentially joining The X Factor judging panel.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Britney Hated X Factor: Simon Cowell Reveals Why

Britney Hated X Factor: Simon Cowell Reveals Why

1 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Britney Spears found judging The X Factor extremely nerve-wracking.
Simon Cowell claims Britney initiated contact about joining the show.
Cowell expresses surprise at Britney's negative memoir comments.

Britney Hated X Factor: Simon Cowell Reveals Why

Britney Spears' tenure on The X Factor in 2012 was a deeply uncomfortable experience, according to her memoir, where she stated she "absolutely hated" the show.

Spears detailed intense nervousness when filming and found the process of eliminating aspiring artists agonizing. This perspective was apparently unknown to Simon Cowell, who recently discussed Spears with The New York Times. He recalled that Spears herself had contacted him about joining the judging panel, initiating discussions he found to be exceptionally promising.

Cowell expressed surprise upon learning of Spears' negative memoir revelations. He stated he would have understood her discomfort with rejecting contestants, a challenge many music industry figures face. Despite her past difficulties, Cowell still holds Spears in high regard and considered her for a potential revival of The X Factor.