Is Britney’s crazy coming back out?

Rumors are swirling that Britney’s bad behavior on X Factor are having Simon Cowell worried that hiring the pop star may have been a big mistake.

The trouble began May 24 at auditions in Austin. “When a contestant botched her hit ‘Hold It Against Me,’ she just left,” says a witness. “She missed the next four auditions. People weren’t sure if she was coming back.” (Spears, 30, later tweeted, “LOL was just taking a little break people.”)

Another issue? Her judging style.

A witness says that while Cowell, 52, L.A. Reid, 56, and Demi Lovato, 19, critiqued contestants, Spears “always said nice things, even telling one mediocre singer he could be ‘bigger than Justin Bieber.’ Simon was shocked!”

While an X Factor insider counters, “Simon doesn’t regret hiring Britney, and as a judge, she had strong opinions,’ the first source cautions, “I don’t know how she’s going to handle the live shows!”

Personally, I think Simon loves working with crazy chicks (Paula Abdul)!  It’s good for ratings and that’s what he wants.

Hiring Britney Spears is a jackpot for Simon Cowell.  I don’t think he regrets that decision at all.

What do you think?

Source Photos: Fame/Flynet

Tags: Britney Spears, Simon Cowell, X-Factor