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'.
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."
Antonio LA Reid, Demi LOvato, Simon Cowell and Britney Spears 2012 Fox Upfront Presentation held at the Wollman Rink - Arrivals New York City
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.
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."
