Britney Spears May Not Be Asked to Return to "The X Factor"

Nothing is set in stone yet, though.

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Though Britney Spears has already expressed her desire to return to The X Factor next season, it's not clear if The X Factor even wants her back: Nothing is set in stone yet, but rumors are swirling that pop's former princess may get the boot from the series that paid $15 million to get her on the judging panel just earlier this year.

"Britney will get the boot," an inside source told Us Weekly. "Producers wanted her for the long haul, but it isn't working...They paid all that for her to say 'amazing' and offer half-claps." Additionally, the source adds that creator Simon Cowell had hoped Spears would inject some much needed drama into the show. "He wanted crazy Britney, but he got boring Britney."

According to a spokesperson for the show, though, nothing is set in stone yet for the third season of the singing competition series. "No one has discussed next year's judging panel yet," they told The Hollywood Reporter. "Any reports otherwise are complete speculation." It's a wooden response, but that's to be expected as it's from an official source. There's never smoke without fire somewhere, and while Britney's myriad of facial expressions were a highlight of this otherwise lackluster X Factor season, $15 million is a lot to pay for just that. 

Poor Simon. Looks like the drama he wanted this season is happening behind the camera instead. But hey, if Britney does get fired - there's always Paula Abdul!

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[via The Hollywood Reporter]

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