Jennifer Lopez's Britney sorrow

Apr 9, 2007, 11:00 GMT

Jennifer Lopez EPA/JOHANNES EISELE

Jennifer Lopez feels sorry for Britney Spears - and can relate to her breakdown.

The 'Wedding Planner' star - who lived in the media spotlight during her relationships with P Diddy and Ben Affleck - can understand why the 'Toxic' singer shaved her head and checked into rehab.

Jennifer told Elle magazine: "I feel very sorry for Britney because I understand what she's going through.

"It's very easy to judge from the outside, but if you've been in that situation you know hard things can get, everything becomes so mad.

"For me, personally, it was always work that pushed me. But I feel sorry for her. I really do.

Jennifer says she decided to change her lifestyle a few years ago because she didn't want to get too wrapped up in her celebrity status.

She explained: "The lifestyle just gets to you after a while. I mean, it can be great, it can be exciting, but it's just totally full on. It takes over everything else, and soon it all becomes too much.

"I decided to get off the spinning carousel ride. It was a definite choice I made and I have to say it was quite a scary one because, even though you know that you feel you want the madness to stop, once you stop it and get off your first instinct is to panic and then jump right back on."

(C) BANG Media International