Pop icon and X Factor USA judge, Britney Spears, got a blast from the past at an audition session this week, when singer Don Philip with whom she had previously duetted with on the song “I Will Still Love You” from the …”Baby, One More Time Album”, suddenly tried out for the hit Fox show. The surprises didn’t stop there when, before a note came out of his mouth, the old friend confessed to the global superstar that he has finally come to terms with the fact that he is gay.

When Don first came onto the stage, Britney recognised him instantly, exclaiming:

“I know him. We did a duet together ten years ago.”

A witness confirmed: ”

She recognised him straight away. She got this huge smile on her face and her eyes lit up. It was so sweet.”

Fellow judge Simon Cowell asked:

“Where have you been?”

Don says the question was extremely symbolic for him. Where had he been?

“I’ve been learning to love myself and all the things that go with that,” he tells RumorFix.

Although Don had a recording contract at the age of 19, he gave it all up because he didn’t know how to face being gay.

“I was going through some deep inner demons.”

”The secret I have is that I’m gay — and its the answer to everything,” he told the judges. “It’s what’s held me back!”

“I’ve never been able to give an answer until now. It may sound like a small reason, but it’s a big f***king reason — being gay and scared. The scared part never leaves.”

A very stunned Britney listened open-mouthed as her old friend explained how he had known of his sexuality at the time of their duet, some ten years before but had held back from telling her, in fear that she wouldn’t approve.

Talking to his old friend, who has certainly battled her own demons over the years, he confessed: “At the time, I didn’t think I was worthy. I didn’t think you thought it was OK that I am gay.”

Britney may have been shocked and stunned and taken unawares but she certainly wasn’t judgmental and insisted:

“I think it is fine you are gay.”

A source told America’s People magazine: “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.

“She’s been through a lot in those ten years, too, so it must have been a shock for her to see him. She handled it unbelievably well and really stepped up to the situation.”

Still something went wrong, Don says he messed up his audition after all the emotion. He added:

“I just had this Aha moment — I had nothing left.”

Don wrote the following on his Facebook page yesterday:

“Tonight i might have sealed my music career fate according to a certain music mogul. I tryed to just be real and instead it totally got turned around on me. . Perhaps this was not the place for me to reveal my very soul and obstacles of my past. Certainly not the place for a reunion … I promise I only had good intentions in mind.. There is one problem my good intentioned comments and revelation were refereed by two pompass arrogant men. My voice froze i started to sing when I was told to but I could not recover from what felt like a really hardcore interogation. I guess I am not as tough skinned as I thought….Wait it gets worse.. when I looked into the very eyes of my old label mate and saw she to was sad.I knew the whole situation was spinning out of control.. my heart broke.. I am numb”

The brave singer later wrote, “maybe simon will give me a second chance.. i was so exhausted could not sleep night before..and so scared to face britney thinking what to say.. Also i had been carrying this heavy burden..and i wanted to just let it out..so all day it was brewing..and 4 hours of interviews..left my voice done.. Simon give me another shot..like the past xfactor winner.. i can do it”

Although he was devastated about not making it on the show, he wrote on his Facebook page that the experience “clears up alot of past issues for me and gives me joy to know Brit 100% accepted me and does now.”

He added on Twitter, “Still brits biggest fan.”

Since Don’s brave coming out party was reported, he’s received thousands of letters and emails from kids saying “Thank you for being brave, maybe I can be brave too.” Don says, “How powerful is that?”

Don says his gay announcement may mean the end of his music career, but he says it’s OK because, “I feel good. I feel free.”

This post was written by guest blogger and reality TV showbiz observer Daniel Cohen. Catch up with him on Twitter here.