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15 years later, Justin Timberlake apologises to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson

15 years later, Justin Timberlake apologises to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson

Social media post comes after NYT documentary accuses Timberlake of "weaponising" the breakup with Spears to boost his career.
Updated 12 Feb, 2021

Justin Timberlake has said that he wants to apologise to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson “because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed” following uproar from fans of the Oops! I did it again singer on social media.

“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,"he wrote on Friday in a lengthy social media post.

"I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.”

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

Timberlake’s social media post comes a week after the release of The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney, the FX and Hulu documentary that takes a historical look at the circumstances that led to Spears’ conservatorship in 2008 and highlights the #FreeBritney movement of fans who want to see her released from it and given control of her life.

The documentary aired an old interview when Timberlake spoke about sleeping with his former girlfriend and indicated that he ridiculed her by hiring a look-a-like for his Cry Me a River music video.

Screenshot from Cry Me a River video
Screenshot from Cry Me a River video

Fans called out Timberlake for contributing to Spears’ very public breakdown and controlling the narrative about the end of their relationship.

More backlash hit Timberlake as social media began to recall the wardrobe malfunction with Jackson that caused a national controversy at the 2004 Super Bowl. Some argued that Jackson, as a Black woman, fell victim to a racist and sexist double standard and received harsher treatment than Timberlake, as a white man, did and that he benefited from “white male privilege".

And the NFL’s decision to invite Timberlake to perform at the halftime show three years ago triggered a backlash from women, minorities and others who felt Jackson was unfairly forced to pay a far higher price than Timberlake.

Timberlake and Jackson perform at the 2004 Super Bowl.
Timberlake and Jackson perform at the 2004 Super Bowl.

“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,” he wrote. “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.”

The #FreeBritney hashtag has trended heavily in the last week, with celebrities backing Spears, including Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus, Bette Midler and more.

Jackson was also a trending topic around the 2018 Super Bowl and after, with the hashtags #JusticeforJanet and #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay going strong on social media before Timberlake’s record third trip to the stage at the Super Bowl.

“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,” Timberlake wrote. “I care deeply about the wellbeing of the people I love and have loved. I can do better and I will do better.”

Comments

Cye Feb 12, 2021 11:39pm
It’s too late Justin.
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Zak Feb 13, 2021 02:10am
It takes courage to apologise for a famed celebrity.
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Herewego Feb 13, 2021 04:45am
To little to late!!!
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Teddy Feb 13, 2021 08:16am
Too late.... opportunist showing fake guilt after making hay.
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Syed ahmed Feb 13, 2021 10:27am
Never to late for saying sorry an moved on
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MALI Feb 13, 2021 10:42am
Maturity comes with age and experience. Looks like apology is coming from the heart.
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A true fact Feb 13, 2021 11:51am
@Zak not really since it’s the new fad. Apologize for what you did years ago and act like you’re not the bigoted insecure and racist privileged person you actually always were and everything seems to be forgotten. This is the goldfish memory generation. Attention spans are just long enough till the screen change held in front of them. Nothing actually changes.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Feb 13, 2021 06:03pm
Too little, too late.
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riz1 Feb 14, 2021 06:55am
@Teddy "opportunist showing fake guilt after making hay" It was not like Timberlske had no choice but to apologize. He could have just shrugged it off as another critical viewpoint. Let's give credit where it's due.
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babu Feb 17, 2021 01:38pm
Britney has been the most exploited A listed performer in recent times be it Justin or her father or her Pakistan bodyguard or even her lawyers and staff.
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