Justin Timberlake was arrested on Monday for driving while intoxicated in the Hamptons—and Britney Spears fans have condemned the news online.
The Sag Harbor Police Department confirmed to Newsweek Tuesday morning that Timberlake was in their custody after being arrested in the Long Island village. He is due in court Tuesday, charged with a DWI offense.
Fans of Spears are no strangers to criticizing Timberlake, with the former teen idols having previously dated. Revelations in Spears's memoir, The Woman in Me, sparked a fierce backlash against the former "Prince of Pop" in October. People began to reexamine Timberlake's early 2000s heyday, accusing the musician of profiting off the pain and public vilification of Spears and other female performers.
Now fans of the "Toxic" singer have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce Timberlake again.
Newsweek emailed spokespeople for Timberlake and Spears for comment on Tuesday.
Britney Spears on September 21, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Justin Timberlake on September 12, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. Fans of Spears are reacting to the news that Timberlake was arrested. Britney Spears on September 21, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Justin Timberlake on September 12, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. Fans of Spears are reacting to the news that Timberlake was arrested. Isaac Brekken/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Clear Channel/Getty Images for MTV"Lol, can't wait til Justin Timberlake fans somehow defend this and then blame it on Britney Spears and then cause another war with Britney stans. I mean Britney Spears and Janet Jackson stans are cheering on this s***," one person wrote.
This post refers to the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show in 2004 when Timberlake pulled down the front of Jackson's body suit, revealing her breast to the audience. As a result, Jackson lost work, however, Timberlake received no repercussions. Timberlake has since apologized to Jackson, and she accepted, but the "Nipplegate" controversy has followed Timberlake since.
"Who's Justin Timberlake gonna blame for his DWI? Janet? Britney? Can't blame it on the a-a-a-alcohol. Because that would be an admission so... Cry me a river," said another.
"Britney Spears should turn on that front camera & twirl like she's never twirled before to celebrate. Justin Timberlake's downfall might really be happening," someone else wrote.
A fourth person added: "Karma is a b****! I smile every time something happens to this a**! It's like justice for Britney!"
Not everyone was quick to vilify Timberlake, as some people have shown their support, with one X user writing: "The police state is out to get Justin Timberlake."
"itll be weird for Britney Fans to celebrate someone driving drunk today, but they are going to , in a hypocritical move that they will Justify," said another.
Spears fans have criticized Timberlake for a variety of things over the years, with the "Piece of Me" singer and NSYNC star having dated from 1999 to 2002. The couple first met as preteens while starring in Disney show The Mickey Mouse Club.
In The Woman in Me, Spears recounted her rise to fame as a teen and her reign as the "Princess of Pop." The book documented some difficult periods in her life, including her breakup with Timberlake.
After the split, the pop star accused Timberlake of capitalizing on cheating rumors, damaging her reputation through interviews and his 2002 single "Cry Me a River." Released shortly after the separation, the song is written from the perspective of a jealous lover and features a Spears lookalike in the accompanying video.
"In the news media, I was described as a harlot who'd broken the heart of America's golden boy," Spears wrote. "There's always more leeway in Hollywood for men than for women. And I see how men are encouraged to talk trash about women in order to become famous and powerful. But I was shattered."
Spears took to Instagram in March to apologize for "some of the things" she wrote in her memoir, also taking the time to praise Timberlake's two new songs, "Selfish" and "Sanctified."
Days later, Timberlake faced backlash online after the entertainment account Pop Crave on X posted a video of a performance by Timberlake. The caption read: "Justin Timberlake while performing in New York City last night. 'I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to absolutely f***** nobody.'"
People online were livid after watching the video, with many feeling like he was mocking Spears after her apology.
Timberlake is currently on tour, with two shows planned in Chicago on June 20 and 21, followed by two shows at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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