At a Los Angeles screening Tuesday of the season premiere episode of the TV show, fans called out, "We love you, Britney."
Her boss, "X Factor" executive producer Simon Cowell, said Spears is "the new queen of mean" for her blunt assessment of contestants.
But Spears also showed a softer side in the episode, calling one young singer "completely and utterly adorable" and another "flawless."
"X Factor," which put Spears and Demi Lovato on its judging panel for season two, airs Wednesday night on Fox. The second episode airs Thursday.
