Britney Spears might have a reputation as a diva, but it's likely no one at the "X Factor" saw these bizarre requests coming from the pop singer ahead of shooting the show's new season: "No alcohol. No pretty women."
On the surface, it appears the new "X Factor USA" judge is giving her coworkers more than they bargained for from day one. After all, the "Toxic" singer is the "chosen-one" to take the show to new heights. Isn't being difficult just part of Spears' persona at this point?
Sources are saying Britney Spears nixed alcohol anywhere near an "X Factor USA" set or hotel during traveling auditions. What's more, rumor has it that the new judge for season two banned "pretty women" staff members backstage. Simon Cowell is going to be pissed.
Spears' booze ban came in the form of a note from her handlers. The rider on the contract to the hotel hosting "X Factor" auditions read, "Very important: We require you to empty the minibars of all alcohol. And no gifts of wine or any other alcoholic beverages, please."
The star's struggles with alcohol are nothing new. In fact, it is part of the reason why her father makes decisions over her finances due to children being involved. Others claim the singer-turned "X Factor" judge has a "disorder" that prevents her from making "sound" decisions, according to TMZ.
Sources also claim the Spears has a thing against "pretty women" and they too are banned from the show's set. One insider said, ''Britney has stipulated that none of the backstage staff working with her are too pretty or stylish.''
Cowell said that his choice-pick judge is doing well on "X Factor." In a recent interview about Spears, he said, "She's quite difficult to please. But she's a fascinating person and I got to like her a lot."
"In the past, we've had judges who never say no. She can't say no quick enough on this show," said Simon Cowell, who created the show. "She's quite difficult to please. But she's a fascinating person and I got to like her a lot."
Last year, Spears and fellow icon Nicki Minaj embarked on a Femme Fatale tour. No drugs or alcohol were allowed at any point during the tour, which aided in Spears' recovery and health. It was not the first time that Minaj did a clean and sober tour; she previously went with Lil Wayne.
"I think it's a great thing," Minaj told Life & Style. "It's not going to affect me in any way."
Neither Spears nor her team has ever publicly confirmed what psychological or substance abuse issues she suffers from, although some sources have claimed she has bipolar disorder, but the star's well-documented personal struggles have long been the subject of public scrutiny.
In 2008, Spears was placed under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears, after suffering from a mental breakdown that landed her on an involuntary psychiatric hold in the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Spears locked herself in a room of her house with one of her sons and refused to turn him over to her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, who had been granted visitation rights and was supposed to pick the children up that night at 7 p.m.
According to People, when police arrived on the scene about an hour later, they transferred the children over to their father, while observing that Spears appeared "to be under the influence of an unknown substance." Spears was taken to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in an ambulance, and the next day a court suspended her visitation rights and placed her children in the sole custody of Federline.
More than four years later, Spears continues to remain under her father's conservatorship, although she has reportedly fought to have more control over her personal life, according to a report by the Huffington Post.
This "Britney booze ban," while diva-like at first glance, seems like a sincere attempt by Spears, or at least her team of handlers, to step in the right direction allow her to reclaim her place at the top of pop music.
Spears is currently engaged to Jason Trawick, who has served as her manager, agent, and was recently awarded conservatorship. He was granted authority with Spears' father's permission. She is reportedly earning a whopping $15 million, to appear as a judge on "X Factor," and has already been praised for her tough judging style.
Part-two of the season premiere of "The X Factor" airs Sept. 13 on Fox at 8 p.m. ET.