Justin Timberlake is once again a hot topic following Britney Spears’ big revelations in her memoir, The Woman in Me. However, this isn’t the first time the former NSYNC member has been involved in a huge controversy, and the Pop Princess’ abortion claim, among many others, is just the tip of the iceberg. So, does this mean Timberlake is once again getting canceled?
The career of Justin Timberlake may have changed over the years, but it cannot be denied that he used to be one of the biggest stars in the international music scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was part of one of the famous bands, NSYNC, had a romance with the biggest pop star, Britney Spears, and managed to launch a successful solo career.
However, things went a downward spiral (again) after Spears’ big revelation about getting pregnant while dating Timberlake and getting an abortion because he didn’t want to be a father. This led fans to question the singer-actor’s past actions, from his treatment of Spears after their breakup to his controversial move in his performance with Janet Jackson at the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, renewing the talks about his past controversies and starting a conversation about him being canceled.
Is Justine Timberlake Getting Canceled?
Cancel culture has been a thing in the age of social media, and many celebrities have fallen victim—one of them is Justin Timberlake. Since Britney Spears revealed she had an abortion, seemingly pressured by his dislike of being a father, fans can’t help but reassess everything he had done after their infamous 2002 breakup.
He seemed to blame her for the split, alleging she cheated on him with the release of his song, Cry Me a River, in the same year of their breakup. Its music video even featured a woman who uncanny resembled his ex. And though she admitted the accusation in her memoir, Spears alleged that Timberlake cheated on her several times.
Time to cancel #JustinTimberlake
— Laura Patterson (@Laurartr16) October 25, 2023
He also seemingly claimed that he took Spears’ virginity after she said she was “saving” herself for marriage in an interview on Star and Buc Wild Morning Show in 2002. Again, he had tainted Spears’ reputation and image.
Hence, it’s inevitable that many think Timberlake capitalized on the high-profile breakup to launch a successful solo career. That said, many are now canceling Jessica Biel’s husband on social media.
On X (formerly Twitter), user @romancejunkie48 said Timberlake would be part of the cancel culture. Despite loving him from the start, he’s now getting buried due to Spears’ revelations. @kakibalut also asked everyone to cancel Timberlake, saying, “he’s an abuser.”
Britney Spears after finally getting the world to cancel Justin Timberlake 🥰
— Blind Items (@bliinditems) October 25, 2023
“Time to cancel #JustinTimberlake,” @Laurartr16 added. “I’ve always heard rumors for years about what a terrible person Justin is (Plus what he did to Janet.) So can we finally cancel this mediocre a** clown, please?!” @Nerdychick83 said.
However, some come to Timberlake’s defense. @M4RGOTROBBIES asked for what reason people want to cancel Timberlake exactly. “For being responsible and owning up to the fact that neither of them were ready for a baby? Y’all are weird leave that man alone,” she wrote.
“People really think I’m gonna cancel Justin Timberlake because he had a messy breakup with Britney Spears two decades ago. HA! I laugh at you,” @urfavkcampstan shared.
https://twitter.com/jackieeemrm___/status/1714487606329983247
@RaiderMcKay even called the world crazy for trying to cancel Timberlake. “The people who truly treated Britney Spears like shit are her parents and the media and her record label that sexualized her… Justin Timberlake is a small pawn in their game they are trying to get the public to cancel and deflect the blame off of them. Don’t be fooled,” @LeeX216A explained.
Justine Timberlake 2021 Cancellation
In 2021, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ relationship was again put under the spotlight following the release of the documentary The New York Times Presents Framing Britney Spears. A collaboration by Hulu, FX, and The New York Times delved deeper into Spears’ life and career, from the circumstances that led to her controversial 13-year conservatorship to how the media, family, and close circle treated her that cultivated her mental breakdown.
The docu featured Timberlake’s past interviews about sleeping with Spears, seemingly sl*t-shaming the former teen idol for revealing the details about their relationship during the press tour for his album, Justified. From there, fans called out Timberlake and asked him to apologize, along with other people who had wronged Spears, for his treatment of his ex-girlfriend.
https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1358506405737603074
Framing Britney Spears alluded to Timberlake using their breakup to launch his solo career, not even minding if he was already going under the belt of his claims about her. New York Times critic Wesley Morris even said in the docu, “The way that people treated her, to be very high school about it, was like she was the school sl*t and he was the quarterback.”
Eventually, amid the calls and a huge backlash, Timberlake gave in to the immense public pressure and released a statement in a post on Instagram.
“I am deeply sorry for the times in my life when my actions contributed to the problem, I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right. I understand that I fell short in these moments and many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism,” he wrote.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLMxYbGhTno/
He then apologized to Spears and Jackson, off whom he ripped a piece of clothing during their Super Bowl performance that exposed her breast.
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.
However, the post’s comment section was still filled with criticisms, with most saying the apology was “too little too late.” His move to apologize to Jackson at the same time as Spears was also questioned, asking the need to drag the equally iconic superstar’s name to this issue. Some even said he only apologized to save his already dwindling career.
Justin Timberlake Janet Jackson Nippl*gate Controversy
Before Justin Timberlake was canceled in 2021 and in the calls to be canceled again this year, he was also canceled in 2004 for how he handled the Janet Jackson “Nippl*gate” controversy. During their Super Bowl performance of his hit song, Rock Your Body, he unexpectedly pulled down the front of Jackson’s body suit, exposing her right breast to the public after he sang, “Cause I gotta have you naked by the end of this song.”
This didn’t just surprise the audience and the people watching at home but Jackson herself as she stared at Timberlake, putting the 1990s music icon at the receiving end of the consequences. Aside from CBS being fined $555,000, the largest fine on TV for “indecency,” for the incident, the network refused to promote Jackson’s album, Damita Jo, resulting in losing work activities.
Let's not forget that this man single handedly ruined the career of Janet Jackson. She was cancelled while he enjoyed an illustrious career. Absolute injustice. Restore Janet's icon status! She deserves it! #janetjackson #BritneySpears #BritneyBook #JustinTimberlake pic.twitter.com/Kp2ZeSB88v
— Shiroshika (@iamshiroshika) October 26, 2023
She was also barred from a planned performance for the Grammy Awards in the same year and was blocked from all of Viacom’s, which owned CBS back then and now called Paramount Global, TV and radio properties. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also barred her from returning to the stage, and MTV and VH1 were forbidden to play her music.
For his part, Timberlake received nothing from his actions despite the stunt being said “non-consensual.” He was even allowed to perform at the Grammys, where Jackson was banned, and took home two awards that night.
https://twitter.com/czyb0rr/status/1717317295096086836
And though he claimed he made peace with Jackson after the incident, stressing his actions were “unrehearsed” and “unintentional,” his only public apology was his 2021 Instagram post—18 years after the mishap happened.
The Career Downfall of Justin Timberlake
The past and current controversies surrounding the career of Justin Timberlake may have badly affected his career. In the early 2000s, at the height of his singing career, he ventured to the acting world, but it didn’t match his success as a singer. Some movies he starred in are Friends with Benefits, The Social Network, and Netflix’s Reptile. He also provided the voices of Artie in Shrek the Third and Branch in the Trolls franchise.
His last album, Man of the Woods, released in 2018, also didn’t reach the success of his previous album sales. Though it managed to top the Billboard 200 and sold almost $300,000 records, it received mixed critical reception.
Reptile starring Justin Timberlake now streaming on Netflix 🍿🥤 pic.twitter.com/F3Yre4w5HE
— JT YES GAWD (@JTYesGawd) October 2, 2023
Sure, there are a lot of things that have catapulted the career downfall of Justin Timberlake, but it cannot be denied that there are still some people who are showing their support. Though his star doesn’t shine as bright as it used to be, he has already set a footing in the entertainment world that nobody can erase. But if there’s one thing fans and critics alike want to see him do today, it’s probably to address the revelations Britney Spears has made and see how he will handle this backlash and controversies.
