Britney Spears and Demi Lovato are the tough cookies on The X Factor, according to series creator Simon Cowell.With the new X Factor judges at his side on Monday, the reliably acerbic Cowell said that Spears is “quite mean” and Lovato is “a brat”. But, Cowell added, he’s long wanted to work with Spears and said “there’s really something likeable” about Lovato.The pop stars are joining X Factor for its second season.Spears and Lovato replace judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who left after the show’s debut year fell short of the spectacular ratings Cowell forecast. Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Cowell will return as judges.

With taping under way in Miami, the X Factor panel spoke to a Beverly Hills, California, meeting of the Television Critics Association by satellite. Earlier on Monday, Fox announced that Cowell’s former stomping ground, American Idol, has hired Mariah Carey as a judge for next year.Spears was asked why she decided to join X Factor, which is paying her a reported $15 million.“I feel like being able to be on a show where you can give back and help people achieve their dream is just really interesting to me. It’s different from anything I’ve ever done,” she said.

She demurred when asked if she hoped it would boost her record sales.“It’s purely on the fact I love the show,” said Spears, who said she’d seen X Factor a “couple times” before signing on.The 19-year-old Lovato was queried about her concerns for younger contestants confronted with fame.In 2011, the singer-actress entered rehab for what were termed “emotional and physical issues”. She said that as a child who faced bullying, she had an eating disorder and later started cutting her wrists to vent her despair.

Singer Demi Lovato has been open with her fans about her struggle with food, and now the star is fuming over a joke about eating disorders on the Disney Channel's show Shake It Up.Lovato, 19, who entered rehab last year for bulimia and bipolar disorder was upset with a character who quipped, "I could just eat you up, well if I ate."

I find it really funny how a company can lose one of their actress' from the pressures of an Eating Disorder and yet still make joke about that very disease.nice,the singer and former star of  Sonny With a Chance.Lovato said,And is it just me or are the actress'getting THINNER AND THINNER.... I miss the days of Raven, and Lizzie Mcguire, referencing former Disney actresses Raven Simone and Hilary Duff.

Demi Lovato and Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey will ring in 2012 on MTV’s annual New Year’s Eve Special, airing live from the network’s Times Square studio on Dec. 31.The duo will be joined by a star-studded list of performers, including former Disney darling Selena Gomez, J Cole, Jason Derulo and Mac Miller. Making a special appearance, Switched at Birth actresses Vanessa Marano and Katie LeClerc will stop by, as well.

Fans hoping to be part of the studio audience can bid on items online until Dec. 18 with proceeds to benefit the FWD Campaign, an East Africa relief effort.“I’m so excited to ring in the New Year in Times Square with MTV as well as share the stage with friends and amazing musicians,” Lovato said in a release.

Added Tyler Posey, “I love the MTV New Year’s Eve Special and am excited to be co-hosting it with Demi Lovato. I love the performances and there are some great acts lined up this year.”Meanwhile, on ABC, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Hot Chelle Rae and Pitbull will appear on the Ryan Seacrest-hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. The bi-coastal special will also feature Jenny McCarthy on the frontlines in Times Square with Fergie hosting the west coast celebration.

Demi Lovato the American singer released a new single on  Tuesday, her first major endeavor since she finished rehab earlier this year.In Skyscraper, a song that has already made its way to the top 10 of the digital download chart on iTunes,the 18-year-old former Disney star sings of overcoming heartbreak against all odds.

Earlier this morning during an interview , Demi shared her experience recording the emotional ballad.“I just sat there and I just cried my eyes out, I was almost doubled over with emotion, was crazy,” revealed Lovato “My whole point in being honest about my journey is to help others. With my problems, I was able to see that if I’m able to share it with people, maybe it would help that one girl.”

Lovato,who spent three months at an Illinois clinic last fall getting treatment for an eating disorder, cutting, and bi-polar disorder,if her former boyfriend Joe Jonas knew about her problems while they filmed Camp Rock.“He was my best friend for years prior to that so he knew ,when we shot the first movie together,” she explained and then admitted that the pair are no longer close. “Obviously I’m not super close with him any more just because a lot has happened, but I was very thankful to have the support of a lot of friends.”