Justin Timberlake, the pop star and actor, is facing a wave of criticism from fans and media outlets after Britney Spears revealed that she had an abortion during their relationship in the early 2000s. Spears made the shocking revelation in her upcoming memoir, “The Woman In Me”, which is set to be released on October 241.
According to an excerpt from the book, published by People magazine, Spears said that she was pregnant with Timberlake’s child in 2001, but he pressured her to terminate the pregnancy. “It was a surprise, but for me, it wasn’t a tragedy. I loved Justin so much. I always expected us to have a family together one day,” Spears wrote. “But he didn’t want that. Justin Timberlake said it would ruin his career and our image as America’s sweethearts. He said we were too young and not ready. Justin Timberlake said he would support me whatever I decided, but he made it clear that he wanted me to have an abortion.”
Spears said that she went along with Timberlake’s wishes, but regretted it ever since. “If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it,” she wrote. “I felt like I had no choice. And I felt like I had betrayed myself and my baby. I felt like I had betrayed God.”
The abortion claims have sparked a backlash against Timberlake, who has been accused of being selfish, manipulative and abusive towards Spears. Many fans have expressed their anger and disappointment on social media, calling him a “monster”, a “coward” and a “liar”. Some have also demanded that he apologize to Spears and take accountability for his actions.
Timberlake, who is married to actress Jessica Biel and has two sons with her, has not publicly commented on the allegations. However, a source close to him told Entertainment Tonight that he is trying to distance himself from the controversy and focus on his own family. “Justin has been focusing on his own family and trying not to concern himself with Britney’s memoir,” the source said. “In recent years, Justin has tried to be supportive of Britney from a distance. They dated so long ago, but he still has respect for her. Justin and Jessica just want everyone to grow and evolve instead of continuing to bring up the past.”
Spears and Timberlake met as teenagers when they were both members of the Mickey Mouse Club in the 1990s. They became one of the most popular celebrity couples of their generation, until they broke up in 2002 amid rumors of infidelity. Spears has since struggled with mental health issues, substance abuse and a conservatorship that controlled her life and finances for 13 years. She recently won a legal battle to end the conservatorship and regain her freedom.
In her memoir, Spears also reflected on her first kiss with Timberlake during their time as Mouseketeers. She confessed, “[Once] at a sleepover, we played Truth Or Dare, and someone dared Justin to kiss me. A Janet Jackson song played in the background as he leaned in and kissed me.” She added that she felt a “spark” with him that never faded.