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Justin Timberlake faces backlash for shading Britney Spears during concert

Justin Timberlake looks happy.

In the world of entertainment, relationships can often be tumultuous and filled with ups and downs. Recently, singer Justin Timberlake made headlines for seemingly taking a shot at his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears during a concert. While some fans criticized his actions, others rushed to his defense. Let's delve into the details and explore the complex dynamics of their past relationship.

During his 'One Night Only' birthday concert at Irving Plaza in New York City, Timberlake addressed the audience before performing his 2002 hit song 'Cry Me a River,' which was inspired by Spears cheating on him. He made a pointed statement, saying, 'I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to absolutely f--king nobody.' This comment was interpreted as a direct reference to his past relationship with Spears, sparking mixed reactions on social media.

Fans took to various platforms, expressing their disappointment and calling Timberlake out for his behavior. Some considered his remarks insensitive and labeled him a 'prick.' Others accompanied their comments with vomiting and tomato emojis, illustrating their distaste for his actions. On the flip side, certain fans defended Timberlake, claiming that he owed no apologies to Britney Spears. These supporters alleged that Spears was the one at fault, labeling her as a 'bad person' and criticizing her fan base as well.

This incident comes a few months after Spears released her memoir, 'The Woman in Me,' in which she revealed deeply personal experiences from their relationship. In the book, she disclosed that she had an abortion while dating Timberlake, as he 'wasn't happy' about the pregnancy and didn't want to be a father. This revelation created a stir, leading Spears to issue a public apology to those she had offended with her book. In a since-deleted Instagram post, she expressed her love for Timberlake's new song, 'Selfish,' and even complimented another one of his tracks, 'Sanctified.'

The unexpected praise from Spears came after her fans rallied to promote her song 'Selfish' to counter Timberlake's new single of the same name. It entered the Top 40 of the US iTunes chart and eventually reached the number one spot, causing Timberlake's track to drop to third place. The couple, who started dating in 1999, broke up in 2002, and while Timberlake had hinted that Spears had cheated on him, she never confirmed nor denied the allegations. However, in her memoir, Spears admitted to cheating on him 'one time' with dancer and choreographer Wade Robson.

This ongoing saga adds another chapter to the complex history between Timberlake and Spears. It was previously highlighted in the New York Times' 2021 documentary 'Framing Britney Spears,' which shed light on the challenges Spears faced during her conservatorship. Timberlake publicly apologized to her following the documentary, and he also supported her when she spoke out in court about the abusive nature of her conservatorship.

Both artists have moved on in their personal lives as well. Timberlake married actress Jessica Biel in 2012, and they now have two sons together. Spears, on the other hand, is currently going through a divorce from Sam Asghari and shares two sons with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

As fans and the public continue to follow the complicated narrative of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, it remains to be seen how their relationship will evolve over time. What is evident is the lasting impact they have had on each other's lives and the enduring interest generated by their shared history.

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