Justin Timberlake is facing the heat from fans of Britney Spears after she opened in her upcoming memoir, The Woman in Me, about having an abortion because the singer “didn’t want to be a father.”
Amidst the social media backlash and calls to ‘cancel’ the star, an old apology that Justin issued to Britney has gone viral.The actor and singer took to his Instagram account to release an apology after the documentary ‘Framing Britney Spears’ featured archive clips of Timberlake discussing his sexual relationship with Spears.
Timberlake had said that he was “deeply sorry” and wanted to “take accountability”. He also apologised to Janet Jackson, after failing to support her over their controversial Super Bowl performance.
The statement read: I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond. I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right. I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.
I specifically want to apologise to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed. I also feel compelled to respond, in part, because everyone involved deserves better and most importantly, because this is a larger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be part of and grow from.
The industry is flawed. It sets men, especially white men, up for success. It’s designed this way. As a man in a privileged position, I have to be vocal about this. Because of my ignorance, I didn’t recognise it for all that it was while it was happening in my own life but I do not want to ever benefit from others being pulled down again.
I have not been perfect in navigating all of this throughout my career. I know this apology is a first step and doesn’t absolve the past. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports. I care deeply about the well-being of the people I love and have loved. I can do better and I will do better.
At the time, the singer, in a series of tweets also stood in solidarity with Spreas saying, “After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time. Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was. What’s happening to her is just not right.”
He even said that his actress wife Jessica Beil joined him in sending Britney “our love, and our absolute support.”
In her bombshell allegations, Britney revealed, “If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it. And yet Justin was so sure that he didn’t want to be a father.”
She added that terminating her pregnancy was “one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life.”
Following the allegations against the singer, a source told ET that the “Cry Me a River” singer is looking ahead and is focusing on his own family. The source claimed that Timberlake is “trying not to concern himself with Britney’s memoir,” adding that he’s happy at home with Jess and their kids and is focusing on his new music.
A new report from Entertainment Tonight suggests that Justin won’t even be reading the book as their relationship was ‘so long ago’. According to the report, the book “is a nightmare for him” as it throws his family “into chaos.”
The timing of the memoir also “stings just as much as the revelation itself,” as the star has big plans for his fall music comeback with ‘NSYNC’ and the next instalment of the animated film ‘Trolls’.
According to the report, a source says that it is ‘unclear’ if Justin ever told his wife, Jessica Biel, about the abortion from his previous relationship. The source further added that the singer does not discuss his past romances with his friends. “He’s not in denial about it, but to him, this was a million years ago,” they added.
Britney Spears opens up about restrictive conservatorship where her dad Jamie took over her career
