Britney Spears And Demi Lovato Talk 'X Factor' Judging Style, Simon Cowell's Meanness And More

Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell pose during the San Francisco "X Factor" Season 2 auditions.

During the San Francisco auditions for Season 2 of Fox's "The X Factor," Britney Spears, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid took the time to talk to Access Hollywood about how things are going, who's the toughest judge and how they handle Simon Cowell's attitude.

"I think I'm a fair judge," Spears told Access Hollywood. "Sometimes it's kind of hard because I know what they've been through and being so young and achieving their dreams and stuf ... So you just have to use constructive criticism and be there for them and just show them support."

With her sympathetic approach, Spears explained she doesn't have the most biting words on the panel. "I don't think I'm the toughest judge at all," she said. "I definitely think Simon would have to be the toughest judge."

Spears' fellow new "X Factor" judge Demi Lovato told Access that Cowell is tough on her too, not just the Season 2 hopefuls. "Simon's great, but he nags on me so much that I don't know if I can take it any longer," Lovato said. "I'm a brat. I'm annoying. But! I give it back to him."

As for her judging style, Lovato added that she says what's on her mind. "It's really hard for me to smile if they're performing and they're horrible," she said. "I have to be super super honest and sometimes I feel bad about it."

"The X Factor" judging vet L.A. Reid seemed to get along swimmingly with the two new ladies on the panel. "Britney is such a massive star that it's slightly intimated," Reid told Access. "She's really sweet, just really loving and charming, but she's intimating because she's such a big star."

As for Lovato, he said she's "like my BBF for life. BFFL," before adding, "She's really too good to be so young."

It's been a roller coaster ride for Spears thus far on the Fox series. Her former duet partner recently came out to her during the audition and there have been numerous rumors about her on-set behavior.

Spears and Lovato joined "The X Factor" after months of rumors that had everybody from Fergie to Miley Cyrus poised to join the judges panel for the reality singing competition. The duo are replacing Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger who got the axe along with host Steve Jones after Season 1.

"The X Factor" Season 2 kicks off the fall TV season for Fox premieres in two parts. Part 1 is two hours on Wed., Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET and Part 2 is one hour on Thurs., Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.

Take a look ! at the n ew photos of the panel below and watch the San Francisco auditions interview from Access Hollywood above.

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• L.A. Reid

  "The X Factor" Season 2

• Simon Cowell

  "The X Factor" Season 2

• Britney Spears

  "The X Factor" Season 2

• Demi Lovato

  "The X Factor" Season 2

• "The X Factor" Season 2 Judges

  L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Simon Cowell

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

• "The X Factor" Season 2

  "The X Factor" judges arrive in Austin

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