Justin Timberlake Turns Off Instagram Comments in Wake of Britney Spears’ Memoir

This follows several anonymous reports about the singer's tension over The Woman in Me.

By Rich Juzwiak  |  October 27, 2023 | 1:45pm
CelebritiesDirt Bag
Justin Timberlake Turns Off Instagram Comments in Wake of Britney Spears’ Memoir
Photo:Chris Delmas/AFP (Getty Images)

If you need to reach Justin Timberlake, look into carrier pigeons because the singer has turned off his Instagram comments. He did so in the wake of the publication of Britney Spears’ excellent memoir, The Woman in Me. Several excerpts of the book that feature Spears’ writing on Timberlake have circulated widely, including passages alleging cheating, an abortion Spears portrays as feeling obligated to go through with at age 19, and Timberlake’s imitation of AAVE (“Oh yeah, fo’ shiz, fo’ shiz. Ginuwine, what’s up my homie?”—you should definitely check out audiobook narrator Michelle Williams’ interpretation of that dialogue if you haven’t already).

According to Page Six’s anonymous source, the singer turned off the comments as a result of the “hateful, disgusting things people were saying” on his Instagram. The lead-up to and aftermath of the publication of the book has produced several anonymous stories regarding Timberlake’s displeasure with its contents. A report published on October 20 by the U.K. tabloid The Sun suggested that Timberlake was “on edge” and his reps had “major worries” about The Woman in Me. “According to the insider, Justin has expressed ‘big concern’ about his music comeback being affected,” the rag printed.

TMZ reports that “our sources say the hate JT’s been getting isn’t impacting his career plans,” which include a supposed solo album and tour. However, the site adds, “We’re told he’s quietly removed some club appearances that were set for early next year, tied to the release of his single and album.” Recently, Timberlake kinda-sorted reunited with the boy band that launched him, *NSYNC. This has included an onstage regrouping at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards and the release of “Better Place,” the band’s first single in more than 20 years. That song had a decent start on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 25, but on the most recent chart, it has sunk to No. 99 in its third week.

Before the book’s release, ET printed this bit of supposed intel from an anonymous source:

Justin has been focusing on his own family and trying not to concern himself with Britney’s memoir. 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 [Biel] just want everyone to grow and evolve instead of continuing to bring up the past.

Hmmm, that’s not really how evolution works. But anyway, Timberlake doesn’t come off great in Spears’ book, but he’s no villain either. She writes about how he made her feel while accepting her own accountability for overlooking his alleged cheating and her own extracurricular play with Wade Robson. His public revelation that they had a sexual relationship, she writes, “depicted me as not only a cheating slut but also a liar and hypocrite.” But she didn’t hold that against him: “To be honest with you, I liked that Justin said that.”

Meanwhile, a Spears ex who seems pleased as punch with the book is Sam Asghari, whom Spears refers to as “such an inspiration” and a “gift from God.” Asghari, who filed to divorce Spears in August, told TMZ that he’s “freaking proud” of Spears and that, “I hope she takes over the world.” Let’s see if he’s singing the same song when Spears releases her follow-up memoir, which will undoubtedly cover their split. Stay tuned!