Spears at X Factor auditions on Thursday. (Splash News)Well, that didn't take long. After much speculation that Britney Spears would likely not be able to handle the pressure of being a judge on "The X Factor," the pop star reportedly walked off the set during auditions in Austin, Texas, today — the first day of filming! According to TMZ, Spears got up and left after a contestant butchered her 2011 hit song, "Hold It Against Me." But the show went on. Four more singing hopefuls auditioned in front of Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, and Demi Lovato, and Spears' empty seat (as seen in a photo on the site), until the show took a recess.
According to a source connected with the Fox competition, the pop star — who has been under her father Jamie Spears' conservatorship since she had a mental breakdown in 2008 — was not upset by her song being massacred. "She just needed a break."
Within moments of the news that Spears, 30, had walked off the set, she tweeted some damage control. "Texas has a lot of talent — seriously! Loving @TheXFactorUSA auditions so far," the pop star — or one of her handlers — wrote on Twitter.
Auditions did eventually resume -- and Spears was back in her chair at the judges' table. According to E! Online's Marc Malkin, the crowd booed the pop star when she gave a glowing review to someone who they felt did not sing very well, causing Reid to "playfully" tell the audience not to do that. Around the same time, Spears tweeted again. "#Britneywalksoff??? LOL was just taking a little break people. I am having the BEST time!!!"
Spears certainly looked gorgeous on her first day of work. Clad in a skintight hot pink mini, the singer smiled for photographers and even signed autographs for her fans camped outside of the venue. Her demeanor was a complete 180 from the jittery mess she was at the Fox Upfronts in New York City on May 15. Spears — whose fingernails were bloody from obvious picking — looked terrified as she stood onstage with her fellow judges, and when she spoke her voice was quivering.
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