Britney Spears, Joey Fatone at the Challenge for The Children 3 charity basketball event. Las Vegas, Nevada - 29/07/2001

The former 'N Sync star, who was one of Spears' closest friends when she started out in the music business, admits he was shocked by her ill-advised stageshow that opened the VMAs in Las Vegas on Sunday (09Sep07).

Now a TV presenter in America, Fatone urges Britney, who has spent two stints in rehab this year, to seek serious help.

He says, "It looked like she was really lost. A lot of people really want her to seek help. There's something not right there, something needs to obviously be done before anything tragic happens.

"She's a great girl. I've known her for many years."

Source: WENN