Louis Walsh has claimed Britney Spears was ‘on so much medication’ when she was a judge on X Factor USA in September 2012.
The X Factor UK judge, 68, briefly worked alongside pop icon Britney, 39, when he filled in for ill head judge Simon Cowell at the show’s Kansas City auditions – and told the Irish Independent the singer ‘wasn’t there mentally’.
He said: ‘I was sitting with Britney for two days, and after every few auditions, she would go…’ (before imitating the singer allegedly slumping over the audition table.)
Claim: Louis Walsh has claimed Britney Spears was ‘on so much medication’ when she was a judge on X Factor USA in September 2012 (pictured together on the panel in 2012)
He said: ‘They would literally have to stop the show and take her out because she was on so much medication and other stuff. I felt sorry for her.’
‘Here she was, the biggest pop star on the planet, and she was just sitting there physically, but she wasn’t there mentally. She had a lot of problems.’
When asked by the publication whether he felt the Baby One More Time hitmaker should have been getting help rather than working, Louis added she was ‘getting millions of dollars’ so ‘why the f*** wouldn’t she sit there?’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Britney Spears for comment.
Alleged: The X Factor UK judge, 68, briefly worked alongside pop icon Britney, 39, when he filled in for ill head judge Simon Cowell at the show’s Kansas City auditions – and told the Irish Independent the singer ‘wasn’t there mentally’ during the auditions (pictured 2017)
Britney only remained on the show for one season – launching her Las Vegas residency, Piece Of Me – with her and music executive LA Reid replaced by Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio on the third and final season.
The star has previously spoken about suffering ‘panic attack after panic attack’ when she started on the show, in a 2012 interview with Elle.
She added: ‘I got over that quickly, though, and realized that I was helping them by being honest.
‘Personally, I think that’s the toughest part about being a judge on The X Factor. Most of them are still developing, and it’s hard to tell such young kids whether they have what it takes or not, so I try to be as protective as I can with their hopes and dreams.’
Simon Cowell added: ‘On the first day, 100% she didn’t think she was going to be able to do this. It’s the Roman Colosseum – 5,000 people booing if you say no.’
He said: ‘I was sitting with Britney for two days, and after every few auditions, she would go…’ (before imitating the singer allegedly slumping over the audition table) – pictured 2012 with LA Reid and Demi Lovato)
He added that Britney had ‘blossomed’ week by week and that he believed she would be good for the show and vice versa.
The popstar has waged a public battle with mental health issues. She suffered a breakdown in 2008 after checking out of rehab, which saw her shave her head and attack paparazzi with an umbrella.
This ultimately led to her father Jamie obtaining control of her person and estate in a conservatorship 13 years ago.
Interview: He said: ‘They would literally have to stop the show and take her out because she was on so much medication and other stuff. I felt sorry for her’ (Britney pictured on the panel in 2012)
Attorney Andrew Wallet and licensed fiduciary Jodi Montgomery also played roles in the case. Wallet has since resigned from his duties in the Spears case in March 2019.
Due to health reasons, Jamie was forced to temporarily hand over the reins in 2019 to Jodi Montgomery, who was already working as Britney’s care manager.
Britney has been fighting in court to permanently replace her dad with Montgomery as the conservator over her person. In August last year, Britney lost a bid to remove him.
It was revealed last month that the Gimme More singer will address Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny on June 23, but insiders have stressed the star does not feel trapped in the agreement.
Judging line-up: The star has previously spoken about suffering ‘panic attack after panic attack’ when she started on the show, in a 2012 interview with Elle (pictured with the panel in 2012)
However, she wants to explain why she wants her father, Jamie, removed from being in charge of her business affairs.
‘She has 99% of the freedom she’d have if she weren’t in a conservatorship, and the only thing she’s prevented from doing are crazy things, like buying three cars at a time [something she tried to do back in the day],’ a source told TMZ.
The insider pointed out that not only is Britney free to travel and lives her day-to-day life without any real restrictions but she is also aware of how out of control things were before the arrangement was put in place in 2008 and is grateful for the structure the conservatorship gives her.
The source said: ‘She’s taken care of and she knows it.’
Britney is happy with Jodi Montgomery being in charge of her personal affairs but doesn’t want her dad in charge of her business arrangements as the pair no longer speak.
Oh dear: The interview also saw Louis admit to telling his former girl band, Girls Aloud, to lose weight at the start of their careers, ‘because they were competing with the Spice Girls’ (pictured in 2002 with the band and finalists Aimee Kearsley and Javine Hylton)
Oh dear: In the wake of the interview, his former X Factor act John and Edwards Grimes, known as ‘Jedward’, who he managed until 2013, launched a scathing Twitter attack on him, branding him ‘toxic’ and urging aspiring popstars not to work with him
The interview also saw Louis admit to telling his former girl band, Girls Aloud, to lose weight at the start of their careers, ‘because they were competing with the Spice Girls.’
Louis is now looking for a new girl group to manage, which he says will be aged 15 and up, and plans to hold auditions this autumn.
In the wake of the interview, his former X Factor act John and Edwards Grimes, known as ‘Jedward’, who he managed until 2013, launched a scathing Twitter attack on him, branding him ‘toxic’ and urging aspiring popstars not to work with him.
They tweeted on Sunday: ‘Louis Walsh wants to make another girl band like Girls Aloud who he told had to lose weight! Don’t get involved with toxic management.
‘Louis Walsh at this point only wants acts to manage to make it look like he’s doing something! He’s a cold-hearted two-faced b***h who uses his powers for his own benefit!’
Jedward have released four albums and represented Ireland in the Eurovision in 2011 and 2012.
Mailonline has contacted Louis Walsh’s representatives for comment.
Fury: They tweeted on Sunday: ‘Louis Walsh wants to make another girl band like Girls Aloud who he told had to lose weight! Don’t get involved with toxic management’