NEW YORK — At a lengthy social networking post, Justin Timberlake states that he wants to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson”since I care for and respect these girls and I know I failed.”
“I have seen the tags, messages, comments, and concerns and I wish to respond. I am profoundly sorry for the days in my life in which my actions contributed to the problem, where I talked out of turn, or did not talk for what was right.
Timberlake’s social media article comes a week after the release of”The New York Times Gifts: Framing Britney,” the FX and Hulu documentary which takes a historical look at the conditions that resulted in Spears’ conservatorship in 2008 and highlights the #FreeBritney movement of fans who want to see her released from it and provided control of her life. The documentary aired an old interview when Timberlake spoke about sleeping with his former girlfriend also signaled he ridiculed her by hiring a look-a-like because of his”Cry Me a River” music video.
Fans known as Timberlake for donating to Spears’ public breakdown and controlling the narrative regarding the end of the relationship.
More backlash hit Timberlake as social media started to remember the wardrobe malfunction with Jackson that triggered a nationwide controversy at the 2004 Super Bowl.
Along with the NFL’s decision to invite Timberlake to perform in the halftime show three years ago triggered a backlash from women, minorities and others who felt Jackson was unfairly forced to pay a far higher price than Timberlake.
“I also feel compelled to react, in part, because everyone involved deserves greater and most importantly, because this is a bigger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be part of and grow out of,” he wrote. “The industry is flawed. It sets men, particularly white men, up for achievement. It’s designed this way. As a guy in a privileged position I must be vocal about this. Because of my ignorance, I did not understand it for all that it had been while it was happening in my own life but I don’t want to benefit from others being pulled down again.”
The #FreeBritney hashtag has trended heavily in the previous week, with celebrities backing Spears, such as Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus, Bette Midler and more.
Jackson was also a trending topic around the 2018 Super Bowl and after, with the hashtags #JusticeforJanet and #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay going strong on social websites before Timberlake’s listing third trip to the stage at the Super Bowl.
“I have not been ideal in navigating all this during my career. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and affirms,” Timberlake wrote. I can do better and I will do better”
