Britney Spears has been reunited with an old friend on the US X Factor.
The pop princess, who forms part of the judging panel this year, got a shock when one of the hopefuls walked into the auditions, People reported.
"I know him," said Britney. "We did a duet together 10 years ago."
The singer - who has not been named yet - then started to cry and revealed to the panel that he was gay but that he hadn't told Britney about it before.
"At the time I didn't think I was worthy. I didn't think you thought it was OK that I am gay," he said.
Britney then replied: "I think it is fine you are gay."
A source said: "When he started crying and saying he thought he'd never see her again and that he'd had a lot to deal with, Britney was comforting him to calm him."
The Toxic singer is sitting on the panel with Simon Cowell, LA Reid and Demi Lovato.
PHOTOS: Britney’s Best Bits
Britney Spears' Best Bits
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Open Image ModalBritney's career started out when she starred in The Mickey Mouse Club along with famous faces Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling. (credit:Rex)
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Open Image ModalBritney wins Female Artist of the Year at the 1999 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBritney celebrated going silicon on the Internet in 1999. The Silicon CD Award was presented to her for her album Baby One More Time, which advanced into the top ten albums played on computers worldwide. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBritney performed in her famous red catsuit at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, February 2000. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalIn September 2000 Britney attended the MTV Music Video Awards in New York with her childhood sweetheart Justin Timberlake. Timberlake's band *Nsync won awards for Best Pop Video and Viewer's Choice. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBritney made her mark dancing with a snake at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalIn one of her less stylish outfits Britney hangs out with Michael Jackson in the press room at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBritney's first kiss with a woman was with Madonna and it was captured on camera at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBritney was thrilled to receive her star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame in November 2003. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBritney appears to forget her clothes at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBack in the spotlight - Britney makes a public appearance when she takes her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James to Disney's The Lion King in Las Vegas, April 2011. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBritney secures her comeback at the Billboard Awards with a raunchy performance with Rihanna this April. (credit:Getty)
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Open Image ModalBritney wins the Video Vanguard Award and Best Pop Video Award for her Till the World Ends video, at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. (credit:Getty)