Jessica Biel showed her support for husband Justin Timberlake on Friday after he publicly apologized to former girlfriend Britney Spears and former collaborator Janet Jackson.
Timberlake’s past behavior has come under scrutiny after the release of a New York Times-produced documentary on Hulu about Spears’ rise to fame and mental health struggles.
After Timberlake, 40, spoke out on Instagram, Biel, 38, commented underneath his post: ‘I love you. ❤️’
Justin Timberlake got some words of support from wife Jessica Biel on Friday after he apologized to ex Britney Spears following the release of a documentary that highlights some of his past behavior following his split from the troubled pop icon
The Sinner actress wrote ‘I love you.’ under Timberlake’s apology which he issued in response to increased scrutiny about his past actions
It comes little more than a year after Timberlake issued an apology on Instagram amid a controversy involving his 12-year marriage to The Sinner actress.
In December 2019, Timberlake apologized for a ‘lapse in judgement’ after he had been photographed holding hands with his Palmer costar Alisha Wainwright.
‘A few weeks ago I displayed a strong lapse in judgement – but let me be clear – nothing happened between me and my costar. I drank way too much that night and I regret my behavior. I should have known better.’ the SexyBack hitmaker wrote in part.
Since the drama, the couple appear to have gone from strength to strength and welcomed their second child, Phineas, in September 2020. They also have son Silas, five.
On Friday Timberlake apologized to ex-girlfriend Spears with an Instagram statement where he admitted he’d been ‘ignorant’ about his privilege as a white man in the music industry and said he’d ‘failed’ women.
He also apologized to Janet Jackson for tearing off her costume at the 2004 Super Bowl to expose her breast.
‘I failed’: Timberlake, 40, posted this statement on Instagram on Friday to apologize for his past treatment of women and apologized to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson
In his post on Friday, Timberlake said he’d seen the ‘tags’ and mentions about the Framing Britney Spears documentary and his alleged complicity in her downfall.
‘I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments and concerns and I want to respond. I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out o f 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 a system that condones misogyny and racism,’ he said.
In a long post, he said: ‘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.’
Timberlake’s public statement comes little more than a year after he issued an apology to his wife amid a controversy involving their 12-year marriage
In December 2019, Timberlake apologized for a ‘lapse in judgement’ after he had been photographed holding hands with his Palmer costar Alisha Wainwright
He went on: ‘I also feel compelled to respond, in part, because everyone involved deserves better and most importantly, because this is a larger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be a part of and grow from…
‘The industry is flawed. It sets men, especially white men, up for success. It’s designed this way.
‘As a man in a privileged position I have to be vocal about this.
‘Because of my ignorance, I didn’t recognize it for all that it was while it was happening in my own life but I do not want to ever benefit from others being pulled down again.
‘I have not been perfect in navigating all of this throughout my career.
‘I know this apology is a first step and doesn’t absolve the past. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports.
Timberlake’s apology comes after he was tagged in social media posts about Spears. It has been highlighted recently in a documentary, Framing Britney Spears, which lays bare how Spears has, according to her fans, been exploited by the men in her life
‘I care deeply about the well-being of the people I love and have loved. I can do better and I will do better.’
The public statement comes after he was tagged in social media posts about Spears and the campaign to release her from a conservatorship held by her father. It has been highlighted recently in a documentary, Framing Britney Spears, which lays bare how Spears has, according to her fans, been exploited by the men in her life.
Fans say that Timberlake is one of them. He and Spears dated from 1999 until 2002 after meeting at The Mickey Mouse Club and were an iconic star duo. They split abruptly and rumors soon emerged that she’d cheated on him.
His career soared. Albums and songs were promoted under the narrative that Spears broke his heart.
Timberlake and Spears dated from 1998 until 2002 and were an iconic star duo. After their break-up, she suffered mental health episodes and had control of her life taken by her father
In his music video for Cry Me A River, Timberlake used a Britney Spears lookalike (above). The narrative surrounding the break up and the subsequent album was that Spears cheated on Timberlake and left him heartbroken
In the music video for his 2002 hit Cry Me A River, he even used a Britney lookalike and Britney was vilified for their break-up.
In a 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer, Sawyer asked: ‘He’s gone on television and pretty much said you broke his heart,you did something that caused him so much pain. What did you do?’
Britney, then 21, replied: ‘We’re both really young. It was kind of waiting to happen. I will always love him.
‘Everyone has a side of their story and to make them feel a certain way, make them feel, you know… I’m not saying he’s wrong and I’m not saying he’s right either.’
Timberlake didn’t shy away from speaking about their interview. In one example, he was asked: ‘I have to ask, did you f**k Britney Spears?’
He laughed, sighed, then said: ‘Oh man, OK I did it’.
In an interview with The Telegraph in 2002, he also said: ‘The break-up was absolutely heartbreaking for me.
‘I can’t just have meaningless relationships with women. I have to find Miss Right in order to have a relationship. There’s got to be that big moment when she comes along.’
Timberlake, kissing a brunette actress, in the video for Cry Me A River
In an interview in 2002, Britney was asked by Diane Sawyer. ‘He’s gone on television and pretty much said you broke his heart, you did something that caused him so much pain. What did you do?’ She broke down in the interview after saying she was ‘hurt’
Britney is shown in a recent social media post (left) Fans are concerned for her wellbeing and want her to be released from the control of her father, Jamie (right) who can still legally make decisions on her behalf
Timberlake, in his Instagram post, also apologized to Janet Jackson.
In 2004, Timberlake, then 23, performed with Janet Jackson, then 38, at the Super Bowl.
At the end of the performance, he tore off her costume to expose her breast.
She was wearing a nipple cover but looked visibly shocked by what he’d done and the audience was irate. In a statement afterwards, MTV and Viacom said it was not part of the planned show.
Jackson’s career suffered afterwards and she was blacklisted by Viacom but Timberlake’s soared and he was even invited back to perform again in 2018.
In 2004, Timberlake, then 23, performed with Janet Jackson, then 38, at the Super Bowl. At the end of the performance, he tore off her costume to expose her breast. The moment afterwards is shown