Two things we have learned last week is that even with the name "Selfish", Justin Timberlake's new song has to be shared on the charts and that Britney Spears fans don't mess around.
The same-titled song by Spears, released on her seventh album Femme Fatale in 2011, peaked at number one on the US iTunes chart on Friday, January 26, surpassing a new release by her ex-boyfriend Timberlake, who had released his version of the song the day before.
Spears' single remained at the top of the list on Saturday, two places ahead of Timberlake at number four.
Fans of Spears have been very critical of Timberlake in the past few years, particularly after the 2021 publication of the documentary Framing Britney Spears.
The world started to look again at their split in 2002 and the harm his reaction did to Spears's career.
Following the outrage on social media, Timberlake eventually apologised to Spears as well as Janet Jackson via Instagram; however, the message has since been taken down from his account.
“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 apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.”
He was again criticised after more damning revelations were revealed by Spear about her ex in memoir The Woman In Me last year.
Spears appears to be over the past and might have issued an apology to Timberlake.
On Instagram, which she has now made private, Spears posted a clip of Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon on NBC's Saturday Night Live programme singing his songs.
Alongside the Instagram post, she wrote: "I wanna apologise for some of the things I wrote about in my book. If I offended any of the people I genuinely care about, I am deeply sorry.
"I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake's new song, Selfish. It is so good – and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together, I laugh so hard?"
Putting the drama to one side, it has been more than five years since Timberlake last released any music, so when could fans expect of his new album?
When is Justin Timberlake's new album coming out?
Timberlake's new album Everything I Thought It Was is scheduled for release on March 15, according to RCA records.
The 42-year-old's last album Man of the Woods was released in 2018.
The musician has largely avoided the spotlight in pop music since then.
In addition to working with other musicians like SZA and Pharrell Williams, he has contributed to film soundtracks and momentarily reconnected with the boyband NSYNC, who helped launch his musical career in the 1990s.
