The appearance, featuring Spears clad in a sparkling bikini, fish-net stockings and boots, showed the singer lip-synching to a recorded track of her new single "Gimme More."

"Obviously the performance, the dancing and music sounded great, but she just looked lost. I think anyone who had seen her performance would say she looked lost," Fatone said in answer to a question from the Tulsa World.

"I was not entertained. I felt bad for her. I think she came back too soon," said Fatone, who first gained international fame as a member of the 'N Sync boy band.

Fatone said he felt that Spears doesn't have an intimate circle of family members or advisers to help her make career and personal decisions.

"My parents would be the first to say 'You are out of your damn mind. What are you doing? You're not ready yet,' " Fatone said.

"I do have a lot of friends and family who give me guidance. But ultimately, you have to make that choice yourself," he added.

"Apparently Britney is not ready to make that choice herself."

Fatone has known Spears since forming 'N Sync with two former members of "The New Mickey Mouse Club," Justin Timberlake and J.C. Chasez. Spears had been a regular on the series since 1993. Later on, Spears traveled as the opening act for 'N Sync as the group had its first, wildly successful tours across the country.

Spears opened a show for 'N Sync the only time either act performed in Tulsa, at a January 1999 show at the Brady Theater.