Britney Seemed To Apologize To Justin Timberlake... For Some Reason

Celebrity

"I wanna apologize for some of the things I wrote..."

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Britney Spears had every reason to feel a little selfish after her fans rallied around her in the midst of Justin Timberlake's comeback. But instead, she's extending an olive branch to her ex. Three months after Spears delved into her past with Timberlake in her memoir, the pop star surprised fans by posting a a vague apology to "any of the people" she offended in the book — and then expressed her support for Timberlake specifically.

Spears and Timberlake's relationship may have ended two decades ago, but the Y2K romance has become more of a talking point than ever following the release of Spears' tell-all The Woman in Me. The book is full of shocking revelations about the two musicians' time together, including cheating allegations and an abortion.

At the same time of the book's release in fall 2023, Timberlake was making his return to the spotlight. He reunited with his NSYNC bandmates and stoked rumors of dropping his first album in six years. But his comeback was not well-received by Spears' fans. When Timberlake dropped his single "Selfish" on Jan. 25, Spears' obscure 2011 cut also called "Selfish" out-charted it — an organized movement by Spears' fans to troll Timberlake.

Timberlake may not have her fans on his side, but Spears herself is showing nothing but support for her ex.

"I wanna apologize 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," Spears wrote in a Jan. 28 Instagram post. The caption was under a video of Timberlake's recent appearance on The Tonight Show.

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Spears went on to praise Timberlake's new music, suggesting she probably noticed the fan campaign to get her song to beat his on the charts.

"I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake's new song 'Selfish,'" Spears wrote. "It is soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard ???Ps 'Sanctified' is wow too."

It sounds like Spears is over the stan wars and just wants to keep things cool between herself and her ex right now.

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Britney Spears Announces New ‘Project’—But What Is It?

Britney Spears performs during Now! 99.7 Triple Ho Show 7.0 at SAP Center on December 3, 2016 in San ... [+] Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

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It was only a few weeks ago that Britney Spears stated that she had no intention of ever returning to the music industry. Now, she’s announced something newâ€"and it looks like it may be the beginning of the next musical chapter in her storied career.

Spears took to Instagram on Tuesday (January 30) to make the announcement, which was fairly mysterious. The singer posted an image of a bunch of pink-ish flowers on a white background. It’s not clear exactly what the picture is supposed to be, but it looks like it could be the cover to a new singleâ€"or perhaps even an album.

In the caption, Spears wrote, “Tease for new project coming up soon” and added a devil emoji and plenty of exclamation points. She also wrote, “SEX N DIAMONDS” and encouraged her followers to swipe to see, well, diamonds.

While nothing has been confirmed, many have assumed that "SEX N DIAMONDS" could be the name of that project she mentioned. Whether it’s a single, or something larger and more involved, is yet to be seen.

Spears didn’t give a timeline for when this project may be released to the public. She also didn’t state when more details would become available, such as what exactly it is that she’s been working on.

If Spears does have new music on the way, it will mark her first release in months. She returned in mid-2023 with the Will.I.Am-assisted “Mind Your Business.” The electro tune was a commercial failure, and it received an almost unanimously negative response from both fans and critics alike.

Earlier this month, Spears countered growing reports that she was working on new music by claiming, “I will never return to the music industry.” A number of media outlets had reported that some well-known songwriters were penning new tunes for her, but whether that’s true or not remains a mystery.

MORE FROM FORBESBritney Spears Says She Will 'Never Return To The Music Industry'By Hugh McIntyre

Britney Spears’ Decade-Old Album Track Hits A New High

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 26: Britney Spears visits The SiriusXM Studios on August 26, 2016 in New York ... [+] City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

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Britney Spears is back on the Billboard charts, but she hasn’t released anything newâ€"though she’s already teasing something. The pop singer’s song “Selfish” has become a surprise win as fans rushed to support her track in the wake of her famous ex releasing a tune by the same name.

“Selfish” returns to the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart this week. The tune has now spent just two frames on the ranking of the bestselling songs in the U.S. classified by Billboard as dance or electronicâ€"or usually both.

This frame, the cut reappears on the list at No. 9. That’s a new high point for “Selfish,” and it reaches that position nearly 13 years after the track debuted. Back in April 2011, Spears sent her album cut to the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart, but it fell off the list just one frame later.

Spears has now accrued nine top 10 hits on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart throughout her career. Four of those tunes have reached No. 1, including last year’s “Mind Your Business” with Will.I.Am. The singer has earned 24 placements on the ranking in total.

“Selfish” surged suddenly and somewhat unexpectedly on sales platforms like iTunes last week after fans collectively began buying the tune once again. Spears die-hards chatted on social media and began snapping up the decade-plus-old cut after Justin Timberlake released a new single by the same name. His “Selfish” did sell much better than Spears’, however. This week, Timberlake’s new track opens at No. 5 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart.

Spears released “Selfish” in 2011, but it was never promoted as a single. The track was featured on her album Femme Fatale, which was another major win for the star thanks to its numerous smashes. While the title became a minor sales win, it never broke out and managed more than a momentary presence on the Billboard chartsâ€"until now.

While fans of Spears were quick to attempt to troll Timberlake and his newfound success, the singer herself doesn’t seem to align with their thinking. Spears took to Instagram to apologize to people she’d hurt with the release of her memoirâ€"likely including her ex-boyfriendâ€"but also to applaud his new music. “I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake’s new song, ‘Selfish,’” she wrote in her caption, adding, “It is soo good.”

MORE FROM FORBESBritney Spears Announces New 'Project'-But What Is It?By Hugh McIntyre

Britney Spears Teases New Project Titled ‘Sex N Diamonds’

Fans of pop star Britney Spears might have been a little bit confused on Tuesday, as she announced a new project in the caption of an Instagram video that featured her dancing in her living room.

The 42-year-old pop star may have said that she is done making new music, but it looks like she still has something in store for her fans.

Britney Spears Starts Trending After Teasing New Project

On Tuesday, January 30, the "Toxic" singer teased a new project in the caption of an Instagram post that featured her dancing around her living room. "Tease for [a] new project coming up soon !!!!" she wrote in the caption. "SEX N DIAMONDS !!! PS swipe to see diamonds !!!" Fans who swipe are treated to a video of her dancing in a bejeweled outfit in her living room.

The announcement came shortly after Michelle Williams' audio version of Britney Spears' memoir "The Woman In Me" earned an Audie Award nomination. The winners will be announced in a ceremony hosted in Los Angeles on March 4. The list of nominees includes many actors, including Tom Hanks, Alfr, Patrick Stewart, Sean Astin, Rosamund Pik, Daisy Ridley, Rita Wilson, Ego Nwodim, and Neil Patrick Harris are all nominated.

Sean McManus, president of the Audio Publishers Association, told People magazine, "Last year, we witnessed the art of human narration through outstanding and diverse audiobook productions, showcasing the talents of Oscar winners like Meryl Streep, profound storytelling from public figures such as Michelle Obama and the literary brilliance of Neil Gaiman. We're also excited to announce our inaugural APA Choice recognition, a new honor celebrating some of the year's most compelling titles that became cultural phenomenons, including The Woman in Me from Britney Spears."

Britney Spears Said She Would Never Return To The Music Industry

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Although it's unclear what the announcement was about, earlier this month, the Princess of Pop made it clear that she had no plans to create a new album while shooting down the rumors that she was currently working on new music with pop icon Charli XCX. "Just so we're clear most of the news is trash !!! They keep saying I'm turning to random people to do a new album … I will never return to the music industry !!!" she wrote on Instagram earlier this month.

"When I write, I write for fun or I write for other people !!! For those of you who have read my book, there's loads that you don't know about me … I've written over 20 songs for other people the past two years !!!" she explained. "I'm a ghostwriter and I honestly enjoy it that way !!! People are also saying MY BOOK WAS RELEASED WITHOUT MY APPROVAL ILLEGALLY and that's far from the truth … have you read the news these days ??? I'm so LOVED and blessed !!!"

Britney 'Really Likes' Her Ex Justin Timberlake's New Song 'Selfish'

Although she deleted the initial post on Tuesday morning, over the weekend, the "Oops!... I Did It Again" singer admitted that she liked ex Justin Timberlake's new single, "Selfish," which, coincidentally, is also the name of a song from her 2011 Femme Fatale album.

"I wanna apologize 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,'" she wrote in the caption of the deleted Instagram post. "It is soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard ??? Ps 'Sanctified' is wow too."

Although some fans speculated that she was hacked, an insider revealed that Britney's praise was genuine. "Honestly she just wanted to wish him well. She really does like the song," an insider told People magazine. "She's a kind person."

"She genuinely just loves good music. She was curious about [Timberlake's] new tracks, and she really likes his new music," a second source added. "Britney has a good heart and is full of compliments when she likes something. She always speaks her mind. That's what's so special about her."

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Britney Spears teases new project ‘Sex N Diamonds’ while dancing in a sheer bodysuit

Britney Spears revealed she's working on a new project while dancing around in a skimpy bodysuit.

The "Toxic" songstress shared a sultry video of herself on Instagram Tuesday that showed her gracefully prancing around in the sheer glittery fit with floral designs covering her bosom.

"Tease for new project coming up soon 😈 !!! SEX N DIAMONDS 💎," she captioned the clip, which was also attached to an image with a bunch of flowers.

While Spears didn't detail her plans, her bodysuit, which she paired with brown platform heels, appeared to give fans hope she would be hitting the stage once again.

"She's picking up that pen again," one fan wrote on X as another added, "Gotta drop it ASAP."

"Mother is coming y'all," a third quipped.

The "Toxic" hitmaker took to Instagram to hint at her newest endeavor while dancing in a sheer bodysuit. Instagram/britneyspears "Tease for new project coming up soon 😈 !!! SEX N DIAMONDS 💎," she captioned the clip. Instagram/britneyspears

However, fans might be too optimistic given that the "Gimmie More" songstress, 42, vowed she'd never make music again.

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"Just so we're clear most of the news is trash !!! They keep saying I'm turning to random people to do a new album … I will never return to the music industry !!!" Spears wrote on Instagram Jan. 3.

"When I write, I write for fun or I write for other people !!!" she continued, adding she is a "ghostwriter" who has "written over 20 songs for other people" the past two years.

Spears didn't give any details on what she's working on. Instagram/britneyspears

The superstar's insistence came hours after Page Six confirmed that her team tapped Charli XCX and Julia Michaels to pen songs for her potential next album.

At the time, insiders told us the project was in the beginning stages and nothing had been recorded yet.

While it's been a while since Spears dropped solo tracks, she was featured on "Hold Me Closer," a collaboration with Elton John in 2022, and "Mind Your Business," with will.i.am in 2023.

But fans hope it's new music. britneyspears/Instagram

The Grammy winner recalled recording the duet with John following the end of her conservatorship battle in November 2021.

"Recording 'Hold Me Closer' and putting it out into the world was a fantastic experience," she wrote in her 2023 memoir, "The Woman In Me." "It didn't feel good — it felt great."

Spears furthered her priority is not pushing her music forward but to "find" herself.

Britney Spears Apologies to Justin Timberlake, New Megan Thee Stallion Album & More | Billboard News

Megan Thee Stallion is making sure we have a hot girl summer with the announcement of her upcoming album and tour. Britney Spears took to social media to apologize for some of the things she wrote about Justin Timberlake in her memoir 'The Woman in Me.' Justin Timberlake has revealed that mor e *NYSNC music is on the way. We attended the premiere of the upcoming film 'The Greatest Night in Pop' and got to interview a few of the film's cast and crew. And more!

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Michelle Williams' Audio Version of Britney Spears' Memoir Earns Audie Award Nomination (Exclusive)

Awards show season is in full swing. We have celebrated the Emmys, Golden Globes, Critics Choice and the Oscar nominations have been announced. The race for best actress this year is tough. But today, among the finalists for the 2024 Audies — honoring the best in spoken-word entertainment, including audio books — comes a nomination for one acclaimed performer who last year turned in what many called "the performance of a lifetime."

Michelle Williams narrated the audio version of Britney Spears' memoir, The Woman in Me. And, in doing so, added a Hollywood lift to what was already one of the hottest books of the year. (It's now a New York Times bestseller, sold more than 1 million copies in the first week of its release and hit No. 1 on Spotify.)

"This book has been a labor of love and all the emotions that come with it," Spears said in a statement shared with PEOPLE in October. "Reliving everything has been exciting, heart-wrenching, and emotional, to say the least. For those reasons, I will only be reading a small part of my audiobook. I am so grateful to the amazing Michelle Williams for reading the rest of it."

Williams' delivery went viral when the audiobook came out, with fans joking about her giving an "Oscar-worthy" performance, according to Entertainment Weekly. Other popular segments included her take on Mariah Carey and Spears' no-nonsense description of Jamie Lynn, her younger sister.

The Audie winners will be announced in a ceremony in Los Angeles on March 4. This year's nominees include many A-list actors: Lake Bell, Tom Hanks, Alfre Woodard, Patrick Stewart, Felecia Day, Neil Gaiman, Sean Astin, Rosamund Pike, Andrew Rannells, Daisey Ridley, Rita Wilson, Natalie Morales, Ego Nwodim, Daniel Kaluuya, Beau Bridges and Neil Patrick Harris are all nominated.

Sean McManus, president of the Audio Publishers Association, tells PEOPLE exclusively, "Last year, we witnessed the art of human narration through outstanding and diverse audiobook productions, showcasing the talents of Oscar winners like Meryl Streep, profound storytelling from public figures such as Michelle Obama and the literary brilliance of Neil Gaiman. We're also excited to announce our inaugural APA Choice recognition, a new honor celebrating some of the year's most compelling titles that became cultural phenomenons, including the The Woman in Me from Britney Spears."

He adds that in a change reflecting the APA's commitment to inclusivity and diversity, the Best Male Narrator and Best Female Narrator categories — two of the top awards that recognize the importance of performance in audio storytelling — have been transformed to Best Fiction Narrator and Best Non-Fiction Narrator.

The list of finalists for the 2024 Audie Awards are below.

Bono, author and narrator of "Surrender.". Photo by ShowBizIreland / Getty Images

AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR

All the Sinners Bleed

By S.A. Cosby

Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White

Published by Macmillan Audio

Inside Voice: My Obsession with How We Sound

Written and narrated by Lake Bell

Published by Pushkin Industries

Sing a Black Girl's Song

By Ntozake Shange, edited by Imani Perry, foreword by Tarana Burke

Narrated by Alfre Woodard, D. Woods, Regina Taylor, Lynn Whitfield, Okwui Okpokwasili, Ifa Bayeza, Imani Perry, Robin Miles, Tarana Burke, and Savannah Shange

Published by Hachette Audio

Surrender 

Written and narrated by Bono

Published by Penguin Random House Audio

Tom Lake

By Ann Patchett

Narrated by Meryl Streep

Published by HarperAudio

AUDIO DRAMA

None of This Is True

By Lisa Jewell

Performed by Nicola Walker and Louise Brealey with a full cast including Kristin Atherton, Ayesha Antoine, Alix Dunmore, Elliot Fitzpatrick, Lisa Jewell, Thomas Judd, Dominic Thorburn, and Jenny Walser

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Once Upon a Time in Nazi Occupied Tunisia

By Josh Azouz

Performed by Laila Ayad, Tara Lynne Barr, Patrick Heusinger, Daniel David Stewart, Simon Templeman, and Pej Vahdat

Published by L.A. Theatre Works

Rising

By Pierce Brown

Performed by Stewart Crank, John Kielty, Richard Rohan, Stephanie Nemeth-Parker, Jenna Sharpe, Kay Eluvian, Jon Vertullo, Ian Russell, Alejandro Ruiz, Andrew Colford, Bradley Foster Smith, and a full cast

Published by Graphic Audio

Star Wars: The Battle of Jedha (The High Republic)

By George Mann

Performed by Raphael Corkhill, Kristen Sieh, Christian Barillas, Jonathan Davis, Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes, James Fouhey, Neil Hellegers, Philip Hernandez, Catherine Ho, David Lee Huynh, Sullivan Jones, January LaVoy, Saskia Maarleveld, Kathleen McInerney, Brandon McInnis, Cassandra Morris, John Pirkis, Salli Saffioti, Marc Thompson, and Shannon Tyo

Published by Penguin Random House Audio

Third Eye

By Felicia Day

Performed by Felicia Day, Neil Gaiman, Sean Astin, Lily Pichu, London Hughes, Wil Wheaton, Hudson Yang, Danny Pudi, Alan Tudyk, and Christopher Judge

Published by Audible Originals

Dolly Parton, author of "Behind the Scenes". Shannon Finney/Getty Images

AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

Behind the Seams

Written and narrated by Dolly Parton, Holly George-Warren, and Rebecca Seaver

Published by Penguin Random House Audio

La Finca: Love, Loss, and Laundry on a Tiny Puerto Rican Island

Written and narrated by Corky Parker

Published by Lantern Audio

Making It So

Written and narrated by Patrick Stewart

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

A Place for Us

Written and narrated by Brandon J. Wolf

Published by Brilliance Publishing

Saved

Written and narrated by Benjamin Hall

Published by HarperAudio

BEST FICTION NARRATOR

Billie Fulford-Brown for The Last Lifeboat

By Hazel Gaynor

Published by Penguin Random House Audio

Ethan Hawke for The Eyes and the Impossible

By Dave Eggers

Published by Listening Library

Marni Penning for Johanna Porter Is Not Sorry

By Sara Read

Published by Harlequin Audio

Meryl Streep for Tom Lake

By Ann Patchett

Published by HarperAudio

Eunice Wong for Land of Milk and Honey

By C Pam Zhang

Published by Penguin Random House Audio

BEST NON-FICTION NARRATOR

Edoardo Ballerini for The Art Thief

By Michael Finkel

Published by Penguin Random House Audio

Dion Graham for King: A Life

By Jonathan Eig

Published by Macmillan Audio

Dion Graham for The Lost Sons of Omaha

By Joe Sexton

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Dion Graham for The Wager

By David Grann

Published by Penguin Random House Audio

Michelle Williams for The Woman in Me

By Britney Spears

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Britney Spears Apologizes for Offending People—Including Justin—in Her Memoir

Justin Timberlake has had a rough few months, discourse-wise, and Britney Spears, who wrote extensively about him in her 2023 memoir The Woman in Me, seems to sympathize with him. In an Instagram post on Sunday evening, Spears offered an olive branch to her ex-boyfriend, who dropped his first solo song in almost six years, "Selfish," last week.

"I wanna apologize for some of the things I wrote about in my book," Spears wrote, alongside a clip of Timberlake's recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he, Fallon, and The Roots performed a medley of his hits using classroom instruments.

"If I offended any of the people I genuinely care about I am deeply sorry," she continued. "I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake's new song 'Selfish.' It is soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard ???"

"Ps 'Sanctified' is wow too," Spears added, referring to Timberlake's other newly released song, which he debuted on SNL over the weekend.

In The Woman in Me, Spears detailed her past relationship with Timberlake, revealing that she had an abortion when she was 19 after becoming pregnant with the NSYNC alum's baby.

Timberlake "definitely wasn't happy about the pregnancy," Spears wrote. "He said we weren't ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young. I don't know if that was the right decision. If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it. And yet Justin was so sure that he didn't want to be a father."

After their eventual breakup, Spears accused Timberlake of using her pain "as ammunition for his record" on songs like "Cry Me a River," and wrote about how much their split wrecked her.

"When I say devastated, I mean I could barely speak for months," she wrote in her book. "Whenever anyone asked me about him, all I could do was cry. I don't know if I was clinically in shock, but it felt that way. Everyone who knew me thought something was wrong with me, really wrong."

Timberlake has not directly responded to Spears' memoir since its release last October. When he performed "Cry Me a River" during a Las Vegas show in December, however, he prefaced it with a quick "no disrespect" disclaimer.

Britney Spears appears to apologise to Justin Timberlake over book allegations

By Yasmin RufoBBC News

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake dated in their late teens

Britney Spears has appeared to apologise to her ex Justin Timberlake for comments in her autobiography.

He had told her to have an abortion as he "didn't want to be a father", she alleged in The Woman in Me, and cheated on her with "another celebrity".

But on Monday, she posted a clip of him singing his songs with Jimmy Fallon on NBC's Saturday Night Live programme.

And alongside the Instagram post, she wrote: "I wanna apologise for some of the things I wrote about in my book."

Spears wrote: "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?"

Spears released a song in 2011 with the same title, with some Britney fans campaigning to get her Selfish track into the charts higher than Timberlake's new single, according to US media.

Spears apologised for offending people she "genuinely cares about"

Spears dated the NSync singer from 1999, when she was aged 17, to 2002.

And after becoming pregnant, she had been unsure whether having an abortion was the right decision, the Baby One More Time singer wrote in her autobiography, released in October 2023.

"If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it," she wrote.

"And yet Justin was so sure that he didn't want to be a father."

The allegations sparked a social-media backlash - and Timberlake appeared to turn off comments on his Instagram for a while.

He has not publicly responded - but in 2021, wrote on Instagram: "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 apologise to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed."

Spears has been married three times and has two children with her second husband, dancer Kevin Federline.

Also in her book, the Toxic singer documented her controversial conservatorship.

Calling herself a "child robot", she claimed her father told her he had assumed legal control of her personal and professional affairs, by saying: "I am Britney Spears now."

And last week, following rumours she was planning a return to the studio, Spears said she would "never return to the music industry".

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Britney Spears Praises Justin Timberlake’s New Music, Says She’s “Deeply Sorry” for Offending People With Memoir

Britney Spears is speaking out in support of Justin Timberlake's new music while also apologizing again for those she "offended" with her memoir.

In a new post shared on her Instagram on Sunday, which has now gone private, the singer shared a clip of Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show's "Classroom Instruments" segment writing, "I wanna apologize 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 soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard ??? Ps 'Sanctified' is wow too."

Spears' post follows her fans seemingly trolling Timberlake after he released his new song "Selfish," the debut single from his upcoming album. Following the song's release on Friday, Spears' 2011 song "Selfish" from her Femme Fatale album hit the No. 1 spot on iTunes, outperforming Timberlake's song the day after its release. Timberlake also debuted the song "Sanctified" during his Saturday Night Live performance.

Timberlake received backlash after Spears revealed in her memoir The Woman in Me, that she and the then-NSYNC member, who famously dated from 1999 to 2002, had an abortion during their relationship. When reflecting on the experience, Spears described it as "one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life" and alleged that "Justin definitely wasn't happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren't ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young."

She wrote in the book, "I don't know if that was the right decision. If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it. And yet Justin was so sure that he didn't want to be a father." She also wrote that though his reaction was "a surprise" to her, "it wasn't a tragedy," given she loved him and believed they'd have a family together eventually: "I always expected us to have a family together one day. This would just be much earlier than I'd anticipated."

Timberlake has not publicly commented on Spears' comments.

After her memoir's release last October, Spears has explained that her book's "purpose was not to offend anyone by any means" and things she wrote about reflected her past. "That was me then … that is in the past !!! I don't like the headlines I am reading … that's exactly why I quit the business 4 years ago," she wrote on Instagram, in a now-deleted post. "Most of the book is from 20 years ago … I have moved on.

"This is actually a book I didn't know needed to be written … although some might be offended, it has given me closure on all things for a better future. Hopefully I can enlighten people who feel particularly alone in most cases or hurt or misunderstood !!!"

'Deeply sorry': Britney Spears apologises to ex Justin Timberlake for memoir remarks about him

Britney Spears appears to have had a change of heart and has apologised for remarks she made about ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake in her memoir.

The pop stars dated from 1999 until 2002 and in her 2023 memoir, The Woman In Me, Spears, 42, didn't hold back when discussing their tumultuous relationship.

This included her divulging that she got pregnant by him when she was 19 and he told her to get an abortion.

She also opened up on how he made her look like a "harlot who'd broken the heart of America's golden boy" when they broke up.

Now, a couple of months on, Spears has offered a surprise olive branch by saying she is sorry for "some of the things" she wrote while also praising his two new songs Selfish and Sanctified.

Taking to Instagram at the weekend, Spears shared a recent clip of Timberlake performing with classroom instruments with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

"I wanna apologize 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…" she wrote in the accompanying caption.

"I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timber lake's new song 'Selfish' It is soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard ??? Ps 'Sanctified' is wow too' she added.

The public backlash against Timberlake following the book's release in October was instant.

Last week, Spears' loyal fans sent her 2011 song Selfish back up the charts after he dropped his new single with the same name on Friday.

Britney Spears apologizes to ex Justin Timberlake over memoir: ‘I am in love’ with his song ‘Selfish’

She's tired of the media circus.

Pop icon Britney Spears issued an apology to ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake on Sunday after she made several claims about the "Cry Me a River" singer in her memoir, "The Woman in Me."

"I wanna apologize 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," Spears, 42, wrote in an Instagram post of Timberlake, 42, appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

"I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake's new song 'Selfish,' " the Princess of Pop added. "It is soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard ???"

"Ps 'Sanctified' is wow too," Spears added.

While Spears did not name Timberlake outright, the clip and caption leave little room for interpretation.

The apology comes after the "Toxic" singer claimed that Timberlake cheated on her when they dated from 1999 to 2002.

Pop icon Britney Spears has reportedly issued an apology to ex-beau Justin Timberlake. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Spears' apology came attached to a clip of Justin Timberlake (left) appearing on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon (right). The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon While Spears did not name Timberlake outright, the clip and caption leave little room for interpretation. britneyspears/Instagram

Spears also alleged the former *NSYNC member forced her to get an abortion when she wouldn't have made that choice "if it had been let up to me."

"I loved Justin so much. I always expected us to have a family together one day. This would just be much earlier than I'd anticipated," wrote the singer. "But Justin definitely wasn't happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren't ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young."

"I'm sure people will hate me for this, but I agreed not to have the baby. I don't know if that was the right decision," Spears, who recently separated from her 29-year-old husband Sam Asghari, continued. "If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it. And yet Justin was so sure that he didn't want to be a father."

Spears also alleged the former *NSYNC member forced her to get an abortion when she wouldn't have made that choice "if it had been let up to me." Britney Spears/Instagram Pop icon Britney Spears seemingly issued an apology to ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake on Sunday after she made several incendiary claims about the "Cry Me a River" singer in her memoir "The Woman in Me." Gallery Books via AP

Spears' praise for his brand-new song comes mere days after fans of the "Womanizer" singer managed to propel her 2011 song of the same name, "Selfish," past his on iTunes.

The Spears fan account BritneyXYTube told Entertainment Weekly that it all "started as a joke."

"Then we all joined in, saying that Britney Spears was coming back with a 'brand' new song," a person behind the fan account explained. "I still can't believe that it became so big, and we see the results we see now. We are all so happy to see her song making a comeback after all these years!"

Spears' praise for his brand-new songs comes mere days after fans of the "Womanizer" singer managed to propel her 2011 song "of the same name"Selfish" back into the iTunes Top 40. Jive Records

"Britney Army level of pettiness deserves to be praised," one fan posted on X. 

"Britney has the funniest fanbase," another wrote.

One supporter also hoped that the revival of the tune would convince Spears to return to music despite the "Stronger" singer recently announcing on Instagram that "I will never return to the music industry!!!"

Timberlake, meanwhile, recently announced a new world tour and was the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" alongside host Dakota Johnson on Jan. 27.

Miley Cyrus May Break Her Tie With Britney Spears And Katy Perry At The Grammys

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Miley Cyrus attends the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples ... [+] Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

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Miley Cyrus is hoping to become a first-time winner at this year's Grammy ceremony. The singer has six chances to win some gold, tying with fellow stars like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish for the fifth-most nods this ceremony. In one field, Cyrus is looking to not only earn an award, but also break out of something of an unfortunate tie with some of the biggest pop musicians of all time.

At the 2024 Grammys, Cyrus is up for most of the major trophies, such as Record, Song, and Album of the Year. She's also a contender in the pop fields, including Best Pop Vocal Album, where her latest full-length Endless Summer Vacation is a possible champion in what is known as one of the most competitive verticals at the award show.

Endless Summer Vacation marks Cyrus' second time being nominated for the Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy. So far, she hasn't won—any trophies, by the way—and that fact has her tied with a number of other superstars.

Cyrus is currently tied with fellow pop artists Christina Aguilera, the Eagles, Florence and the Machine, Annie Lennox, Maroon 5, NSYNC, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Gwen Stefani for one of the greatest accumulations of nominations without a Grammy—at least in the Best Pop Vocal Album category. They've all been in the running for the Grammy twice, but have yet to come out on top.

Currently, Justin Bieber and Pink are matched for this record, as both singers have earned four Best Pop Vocal Album nods, but they haven't won yet. Coldplay, Don Henley (both on his own and as a member of the Eagles), and Sarah McLachlan come next, with a trio of nominations without a single prize.

This year, Cyrus will need to beat out some of the most popular women in pop for the award—as well as just one man. The nominees for the Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy at the 2024 ceremony include Swift's Midnights, Rodrigo's Guts, Ed Sheeran's - (Subtract), and Kelly Clarkson's Chemistry. All of those musicians have won this honor before, with Cyrus being the lone woman out.

Endless Summer Vacation is a serious contender for the Best Pop Vocal Album award, as it's also up for the biggest prizes at the Grammys—but it's not alone in that status. Both Rodrigo and Swift are also in the running for Album of the Year as well, so all three women appear to be leading the charge for the win. Clarkson and Sheeran could pull off an upset, but the race looks like it will end up being between the aforementioned trio.

Cyrus is nominated in three of the four pop categories at the 2024 Grammys. In addition to Endless Summer Vacation earning a Best Pop Vocal Album nod, the set's massive lead single "Flowers" could claim Best Pop Solo Performance. Her Brandi Carlile collaboration "Thousand Miles" is also a contender for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance this year.

MORE FROM FORBESMiley Cyrus Now Claims The Longest-Running No. 1 Hit Of All Time On A Billboard ChartBy Hugh McIntyre

Britney Spears strips down to a see-through thong bodysuit and dances in her $7.9M home after teasing career comeback

BRITNEY Spears has shared a new video where she flaunts her sex appeal for her followers.

Britney, 42, posted the clip on her private Instagram account on Saturday.

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Britney Spears has posted another sexy video on her private InstagramCredit: Instagram/britneyspears

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Britney was wearing a see-through thong bodysuitCredit: Instagram/britneyspears

The video showed the pop singer wearing a tan see-through thong bodysuit.

Her torso was covered in rhinestones, but her breasts were hidden beneath white lace pasties.

She was sporting a pair of brown high heel sandals, and her blonde hair was falling off her shoulders.

Britney captioned the video: "If man is a man, Woman is a God!

"First time with a real set of extensions, just saying!"

In the clip, she was dancing by swaying her hips back and forth as well as spinning around to show off her figure.

Toward the middle of the clip, she grabbed her breasts as she whipped her hair back and forth.

SHE MIGHT BE BACK

Earlier this month, Britney announced to her loyal fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she has something up her sleeve in the new year.

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It seems like Britney's comeback could include more than just her memoir The Woman in Me.

The Grammy winner shared a special video message on the social media platform.

Revealed in the short clip in black text was that "something new" was coming soon from the pop star.

Fans who wanted to be the "first to know" were told to sign up for her mailing list.

Britney's tweet could be her teasing new music, however, that is highly unlikely since she revealed that she would not be releasing a new album or returning to the music industry.

GETTING IN TROUBLE

Britney has allegedly been banned from the Four Seasons in Los Angeles after guests complained about her "bizarre behavior."

Three sources exclusively confirmed to The U.S. Sun that staff at the Westlake Village resort have been driven crazy by the pop star's antics for the past year.

Britney was a longtime guest at the five-star family-friendly hotel, which is only a few minutes from her $14 million mansion in Thousand Oaks.

Britney even spent her wedding night at the Four Seasons with her best friend and manager Cade Hudson rather than with ex Sam Asghari, a source previously told The U.S. Sun.

An insider told The U.S. Sun: "Britney has been going to the Four Seasons in Westlake Village for years, but she's been causing a headache for staff recently.

"In the past year, she's been banned from the hotel, unbanned, and is now banned again.

"Some guests have complained about her going topless by the pool and making them feel uncomfortable, and her behavior is often bizarre and annoying.

"Staff have talked about it throughout the whole hotel and it's really unfortunate, but she's not allowed on there at the moment, certainly not the spa."

The source added, "Britney might be an A-list celebrity but she can't run around doing whatever she wants at the Four Seasons.

"It sees a lot of high profile guests and rich guests checking in who spend thousands there, whether it be for a business trip or leisure and they don't want to be made to feel awkward."

The U.S. Sun sent multiple requests for comment to Britney's reps and the Four Seasons in Westlake Village.

Britney's rep eventually claimed the story was "not true," but the Four Seasons has remained silent.

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She grabbed her breasts while she danced in her living roomCredit: Instagram/britneyspears

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Britney hinted that she might make a career comebackCredit: Getty

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Britney was recently banned from the Four Seasons Hotel, according to several sourcesCredit: Instagram/britneyspears

Britney Spears' 2011 Song ‘Selfish’ Just Beat Justin Timberlake’s New Single on a Major iTunes Chart

Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Britney Spears fans don't mess around.

On January 25, Justin Timberlake released a new single titled, "Selfish," ahead of his upcoming album, Everything I Thought I Was. What he probably didn't expect was the response from Britney Spears fans, who joined forces to "dethrone" the singer from his number one spot on the iTunes charts using Spears' 2011 song of the same name.

By January 26, Spears' 13-year-old song "Selfish"—which was a bonus track from her Femme Fatale album—surpassed Timberlake's new release, taking that coveted top slot. According to People, Spears' song is still ahead on the US iTunes Top Songs chart as of January 27.

"Britney Spears fans sending 'Selfish,' a bonus track from 2011, to #1 is everything I live for," one fan account boasted. "I love it so much."

Justin Timberlake has received a lot of pushback from Britney Spears fans in recent years, especially since the release of the Framing Britney Spears documentary in 2021. At the time, the world began to re-examine their 2002 breakup and the damage his response had on Spears' career. It didn't help that his behavior towards Janet Jackson following their notorious Super Bowl Halftime Show performance in 2004 came into question as well.

Timberlake ended up apologizing to Spears and Jackson via Instagram in the wake of the social media backlash, though it's since been removed from his feed. "I've seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond," he wrote in February 2021. "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," he continued. "Because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed."

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake attend the 2001 American Music Awards.

Jeffrey Mayer

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake met on the set of Disney's Mickey Mouse Club in 1992 and began in 1999, when they were both 18 years old. In 2023, Spears revealed she had an abortion at one point during their three-year relationship. "I always expected us to have a family together one day," Spears wrote in her memoir, The Woman in Me. "This would just be much earlier than I'd anticipated." The pop star went on to say she "never" would have chosen to terminate her pregnancy were she alone, but Timberlake was "so sure that he didn't want to be a father."

"Justin definitely wasn't happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren't ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young," Spears continued. "To this day, it's one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life."

Originally Appeared on Glamour

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Britney Spears Fans Troll Justin Timberlake by Sending Her 2011 Song ‘Selfish’ Up Chart to Compete With His Same-Named New Single

Britney Spears' fans don't seem to be letting their issues with Justin Timberlake stay at rest.

Following the release of Timberlake's new single "Selfish," the Britney Army took it upon themselves to troll the pop star by running Spears' 2011 song of the same name up the charts. A day after the release of Timberlake's track, Spears' "Selfish" hit No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart, reviving the bonus track from her album "Femme Fatale" and outperforming his new song.

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Timberlake dropped "Selfish" on January 25, almost a week after teasing a snippet on his social accounts. He premiered the song in full during a hometown performance at Memphis' Orpheum Theater, giving a preview of the mid-tempo track.

But he'd been in the news just months before, after Spears released her memoir "The Woman in Me." In the book, Spears revisits her relationship with Timberlake, revealing details that didn't portray him in the most positive light. Spears fans had long held a vendetta against Timberlake, particularly after he played the victim amid their breakup with his 2002 single "Cry Me a River" and villainized her in its accompanying music video that featured a Spears lookalike.

Spears wrote that she felt betrayed by the music video and shamed by how he framed her to the viewing public. She also went into detail about an abortion she had while dating him, saying that they terminated the pregnancy because he wasn't ready to be a father.

"Selfish" is the first single off of Timberlake's new album "Everything I Thought It Was," releasing March 15. Shortly after the song's release, he announced the Forget Tomorrow World Tour, which kicks off in Vancouver, Canada on April 29.

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Britney Spears Fans Sound Off on Justin Timberlake’s Electric ‘Saturday Night Live’ Performance

Justin Timberlake has returned to Saturday Night Live for the first time since 2013, and most fans are here for it. While he's not hosting this time, Timberlake did pop in to perform his new single for fans. SNL marks a renewed focus on music for Timberlake.

Many fans took to social media to share their love for the artist, while others used the moment to shade Timberlake in support of Britney Spears.

In an interview with Zane Low (via Deadline), Timberlake opened up about the decision not to host the show. It's something that he put a lot of thought into, but he decided a musical performance would demonstrate his new project. Timberlake previously released "Selfish" from his album Everything I Thought It Was (although Britney Spears fans have shared their displeasure).

"I flirted with the idea of, should I host or ask to host?" Timberlake said. "And then I just thought, 'No, this album is really special to me in a different, different way.' I also cannot imagine that I won't get pulled into a sketch or two. It's only natural," he said. "And I'm here for it. That's always fun. SNL, for me, in any capacity. I've hosted five, but I don't even know how many times I've been on the show."

[Get Tickets to See Justin Timberlake Perform Live — Tickets Selling Fast]

Justin Timberlake Talks New Album

Timberlake opened up about recording the album. The singer ended up recording over 100 songs for the album, but he had to narrow it down to less than 20. Timberlake believes that the album represents him at his best.

"I worked for a long time on this album and I ended up with 100 songs," Timberlake said. "So narrowing them down to 18 was a thing, and then, yeah, I'm really excited about this album. I think every artist probably says this, but it is my best work."

Timberlake also opened up about playing songs from the album for the first time.

I was playing [the album] for people around me," Timberlake said. "They're like, 'Oh, this sounds like everything we know you for.' And then another friend of mine was like, 'Oh, this sounds like everything I thought I wanted from you.' It was like that sort of phrase, in one way or another, was in the air. And I thought to myself about how some of the songs are more introspective and some of them are more what I think people know me for."

[Photo by David Becker/Getty Images]

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Britney Spears responds to album rumors. This is what she has to say.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears is shooting down rumors of a new album, vowing to "never return to the music industry."

At the same time, Spears noted in Wednesday's Instagram post, that she's still writing music — just for other people.

"When I write, I write for fun or I write for other people !!!" she wrote. "I've written over 20 songs for other people the past two years !!! I'm a ghostwriter and I honestly enjoy it that way !!!"

The Instagram caption, in which she blasted those who "keep saying I'm turning to random people to do a new album," was paired with a photo of a Guido Reni painting of Salome holding the head of John the Baptist.

This isn't the first time Spears has indicated she's retiring from releasing her own music.

In July 2021, while still under the infamous conservatorship that controlled her life, money and voice for nearly 14 years, her longtime manager Larry Rudolph resigned, saying she had no intention of resuming her career.

Just after being released from the conservatorship later that year, she took to Instagram to say she was scared of the music business and that not doing her own music was an act of defiance against her family.

But the next year, she released the single "Hold Me Closer," a collaboration with Elton John that spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 6. Last year's "Mind Your Business," a single with will.i.am, was poorly reviewed and failed to make the Hot 100, though. Spears' last full album was 2016′s "Glory."

In Wednesday's post, Spears also wrote that it was "far from the truth" that her 2023 bestselling memoir, "The Woman In Me," was released without her approval.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.