Britney Spears is giving insight into her life in the memoir The Woman in Me and making some surprising revelations. The pop star is opening up about what really happened during her heavily criticized 2007 MTV VMAs performance and why she didn’t like her time judging on The X-Factor USA.
Spears performed “Gimme More” in Las Vegas at the VMAs and was panned by viewers at home as it seemed the star was completely out of it. A few years ago a video of her rehearsal leaked online where Spears performed her musical number flawlessly in contrast to the live performance. Now Spears is revealing she had an awkward encounter with her ex Justin Timberlake that affected her emotionally.
“It had been a while since I’d seen him. Everything was going great in his world. He was at the top of his game in every way, and he had a lot of swagger. I was having a panic attack. I hadn’t rehearsed enough. I hated the way I looked. I knew it was going to be bad,” Spears wrote in her memoir, according to the Daily Mail.
Spears was criticized for her musical performance alongside her appearance as her hair extensions were clearly visible.
“There was a problem with my costume and with my hair extensions. I hadn’t slept the night before. I was dizzy. It was less than a year since I’d had my second baby in two years but everyone was acting like my not having six-pack abs was offensive,” she wrote. “I couldn’t believe I was going to have to go out onstage feeling the way I felt. I went out there and did the best I could at that moment in time, which — yes, granted — was far from my best at other times. I could see myself on video throughout the auditorium while I performed; it was like looking at myself in a fun-house mirror.”
The “Kill the Lights” singer would go on to become a judge on the second season of The X-Factor alongside producer L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato and Simon Cowell. Spears wrote in her book that she did not enjoy the experience during the talent competition.
“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,” Spears said. “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… 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.”
