Justin Timberlake tells NYC sorry to ‘absolutely f–king nobody’
Justin Timberlake is saying “Bye Bye Bye” to any amends he made in recent years, on the heels of ex-girlfriend Britney Spears apologizing for airing their dirty laundry in her memoir.
Just before launching into a performance of “Cry Me a River” at a one-night engagement at Irving Plaza in Manhattan on Wednesday, the “SexyBack” singer, 42, told the crowd he wanted to take the opportunity to apologize, only to tack on, “…To absolutely f–king nobody,” according to footage making the rounds online.
It’s believed to largely be a nod to ex-girlfriend Spears, also 42, who over the weekend said she was “in love” with Timberlake’s new song, “Selfish,” and sorry “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 said of “The Woman in Me,” which hit shelves in late October.
Spears said in the memoir that she underwent an abortion during her relationship with Timberlake, which lasted from 1999 to 2002. She also accused him of cheating on her and throwing her under the bus when the media speculated on the reason their relationship ended.
Timberlake’s new remarks come nearly two years to the day after he issued an apology to Spears and Janet Jackson, whose costume he ripped at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, revealing her breast on the world stage. Like Spears, the 57-year-old “Rhythm Nation” singer’s career took a massive hit in the aftermath.
“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,” Timberlake said in February 2021. “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.”