Justin Timberlake’s sincere apology to Britney Spears preceding his poignant revelation about their difficult decision regarding pregnancy

 

Britney Spears has disclosed, for the first time, that she underwent an abortion at the age of 19 after becoming pregnant with Justin Timberlake’s child.

The singer, who regained her autonomy from the confines of her conservatorship in 2021, unveiled this revelation in a startling new interview. She made this choice after her first love, Justin, informed her that he did not wish to become a father.

The pop icons were in a relationship from 1999 until 2002, when their separation took a bitter turn, with Justin publicly criticising his ex-partner in the media.

Looking back on his past actions, Justin issued a heartfelt apology to Britney in 2021. This statement followed the release of the Framing Britney Spears documentary, which scrutinised his treatment of the distressed singer.

The documentary delved into how Justin kickstarted his solo career after the turbulent end of his relationship with Britney. He even went so far as to enlist a doppelganger to feature in his “Cry Me A River” music video, creating the impression of infidelity on her part.

This prompted a backlash from fans, who condemned the singer for his treatment of Britney, while also highlighting his handling of the Janet Jackson Superbowl controversy, where he was accused of abandoning the “Nasty” singer.

In a statement to his fans, Justin openly acknowledged that, as a white male, he has profited from an industry that tolerates ‘misogyny and racism’. He vowed to take steps towards improvement.

Back in 2004, the media ‘cancelled’ Janet Jackson after an inadvertent exposure of her breast during her halftime performance alongside Justin, while the former NSYNC singer’s career continued to thrive. Many fans expressed their disappointment that Justin did not speak up to defend Janet against the onslaught of abuse.

Addressing the criticism on his Instagram, Justin expressed his awareness of the flood of negative feedback directed towards him and expressed a sincere apology to both Britney and Janet for his past actions.

Taking to Instagram, he shared: “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.”

He went on: “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…”

Shifting his focus to the music industry at large, Justin remarked that the system is ‘flawed.’

“It sets men, especially white men, up for success. It’s designed this way,” he explained. “As a man in a privileged position I have to be vocal about this. Because of my ignorance, I didn’t recognise it for what it was for a while 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 the first step and doesn’t absolve the past. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this, as well as being part of a world that uplifts and supports. Justin concluded his message: ‘I care deeply about the wellbeing of the people I love and have loved. I can do better, and I will do better.’

Following the release of the statement, Justin’s wife of 12 years, Jessica Biel, was one of the first to leave a comment. The actress wrote: “I love you,” followed by a single red love heart.

Justin’s past relationship with Britney and the acrimonious break-up that followed has been a focal point of discussion since the release of the Framing Britney Spears documentary.

In the documentary, Justin is accused of using public humiliation to advance his own career.

New York Times critic Wesley Morris referenced Justin’s music video for ‘Cry Me A River’, explaining how provocative scenes led to assumptions about what transpired behind closed doors, creating a tabloid buzz at Britney’s expense.

“The way people treated her, to be very high school about it, was like, she was the school slut and he was the school quarterback. He essentially weaponised the video for one of his singles to incriminate her in the demise of their relationship,” said Morris.

Dave Homes, a former MTV video jockey, concurred: “Justin sort of made it seem, rightly or wrongly, like she had cheated on him. It really seemed like he took control of the narrative.”

Since its release, fans have also re-examined how Justin emerged unscathed from the Superbowl controversy that left Janet Jackson’s career in tatters.

Justin ripped off Janet’s bodice with the intention of exposing her bra, but accidentally revealed her breast live on TV to an audience of millions. Janet was forced to apologise numerous times, was banned from attending the Grammy Awards, and saw her music blacklisted by multiple stations.

Her career never fully recovered, while Justin was invited to perform at the Superbowl again in 2018.