Justin Timberlake appeared to allude to the fury his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears unleashed on him and one of his biggest songs during a performance in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.
The 42-year-old singer and actor was performing for the opening of the Fontainebleau in Sin City when he paused to address the audience.
‘No disrespect,’ he said, before launching into a performance of his hit song Cry Me A River.
The single, which featured on his 2002 debut solo album Justified, was lambasted by Spears, also 42, in her memoir The Woman In Me earlier this year due to its connection to her traumatic breakup with the former NSYNC singer the same year.
Timberlake seemed to be fully aware of the controversy over the song, which featured an actress who looked suspiciously like the Toxic singer and references a cheating lover in the lyrics.
Justin Timberlake appeared to allude to the fury his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears unleashed on him and one of his biggest songs during a performance in Las Vegas on Wednesday night
The 42-year-old singer and actor was performing for the opening of the Fontainebleau in Sin City when he paused to address the audience when he prefaced Cry Me A River by saying, ‘No disrespect’
The single, which was featured on his 2002 debut solo album Justified, was lambasted by Spears, also 42, in her memoir The Woman In Me earlier this year due to its connection to her traumatic breakup with the NSYNC singer the same year; seen in 2000
It may have been an awkward moment for Timberlake and his family, as his wife Jessica Biel was also in the audience for the opening-night show.
She was spotted dancing throughout the performance and singing along to her husband’s hits, including Cry Me A River, according to People.
In an Instagram post shared on Thursday, he shard a photo of himself and his wife walking down a hallway in the hotel.
Justin, who was pictured from behind, was dressed in a black tuxedo and carried Jessica’s heels in his hand, while she walked next to him in a flowing white dress with a modest train trailing behind her.
‘I could never walk a mile in her shoes but, you know it’s been a good night when I’m carrying the heels home,’ he wrote in his caption.
Justin also posted behind-the-scenes snaps from his backstage warmups with his band and his performance in front of the casino crowd.
In her recent memoir, Spears wrote about how she felt voiceless after her ex put out his top five hit, which effectively put forward his narrative of being the wronged party in their breakup.
‘I felt there was no way at the time to tell my side of the story,’ she wrote in The Woman In Me, via People. ‘I couldn’t explain, because I knew no one would take my side once Justin had convinced the world of his version. I don’t think Justin realized the power he had in shaming me. I don’t think he understands to this day.’
It may have been an awkward moment for Timberlake and his family, as his wife Jessica Biel was also in the audience for the opening-night show. She was spotted dancing throughout the performance and singing along to her husband’s hits, including Cry Me A River
In an Instagram post shared on Thursday, he shard a photo of himself and his wife walking down a hallway in the hotel. ‘I could never walk a mile in her shoes but, you know it’s been a good night when I’m carrying the heels home,’ he wrote
Timberlake seemed to be fully aware of the controversy over the song, which featured an actress who looked suspiciously like the Toxic singer and references a cheating lover in the lyrics
‘I felt there was no way at the time to tell my side of the story,’ Britney said of the song in her memoir. ‘I couldn’t explain, because I knew no one would take my side once Justin had convinced the world of his version. I don’t think Justin realized the power he had in shaming me. I don’t think he understands to this day’
Justin also delved into the creation of Cry Me A River and the impact that his recently ended relationship with Britney had on it in his 2018 memoir Hindsight. ‘I’ve been scorned. I’ve been pissed off. That feeling inspired me to write Cry Me A River,’ he wrote
Justin also delved into the creation of Cry Me A River and the impact that his relationship with Britney had on it in his 2018 memoir Hindsight.
‘I’ve been scorned. I’ve been pissed off. That feeling inspired me to write Cry Me A River,’ he wrote.
But he was more circumspect in an apology shared to social media in February of 2021, after Britney’s fans had begun mobilizing to try to have her years-long conservatorship dismantled and a damaging New York Times documentary — which was not authorized by Spears — examined their relationship and the aftermath of their breakup.
‘I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others… 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,’ he said, while also referencing renewed scrutiny he received for his role in the ‘wardrobe malfunction’ during his performance with Jackson at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.
Although he was reportedly a full participant in the display, which involved him ripping off part of Jackson’s outfit to expose one of her breasts, his career continued to soar while hers suffered for years.
Britney’s conservatorship was dissolves nine months later in November 2021.
Although Justin had on a tasteful black tuxedo while exploring the casino with Jessica, he switched into a more playful white tux jacket for his performance on stage.
He shared photos of himself bathed in lights on stage while surrounded by a bevy of backup dancers and singers.
Justin posted behind-the-scenes snaps from his backstage warmups with his band and his performance in front of the casino crowd
He shared photos of himself bathed in lights on stage while surrounded by a bevy of backup dancers and singers
Although Justin had on a tasteful black tuxedo while exploring the casino with Jessica, he switched into a more playful white tux jacket for his performance on stage
In addition to Cry Me A River, he also performed hits including SexyBack, Rock Your Body, and his Trolls anthem Can’t Stop The Feeling
The final tune of the night was Mirrors, which featured on his 2013 album The 20/20 Experience. He previously said the song was written for his wife Jessica
In addition to Cry Me A River, he also performed hits including SexyBack, Rock Your Body, and his Trolls anthem Can’t Stop The Feeling.
The final tune of the night was Mirrors, which was featured on his 2013 album The 20/20 Experience.
In Hindsight, Justin wrote about penning the tune in honor of his wife Jessica.
‘We were living together at the time. We weren’t engaged yet. In fact, it was years before I proposed…’ he recounted, before referencing how his grandparents set an example for his marriage to her.
‘The video became a dedication to my grandparents. I learned about long-lasting love from them. I know that’s what I have with my wife…’ he gushed. ‘She changed me. She changed my life. All of that is in Mirrors. Not the details. But the way it felt to have my life be touched by her.’