American singer, Justin Timberlake has apologized to Brittany Spears and Janet Jackson after facing serious backlash.
Over the last week, Justin Timberlake has come under fire for the way he treated both women which was prompted by last Friday’s release of FX’s documentary ‘Framing Britney Spears.’
Samantha Stark’s film, which talks about Spears’ life in the spotlight and the media scrutiny she’s received throughout, included the event of Justin Timberlake and Spears’ 2002 breakup.
The film showed how Timberlake controlled the narrative surrounding the highly publicized breakup by boasting about their sex life in interviews, and casting a Britney’s lookalike as an unfaithful girlfriend in the “Cry Me a River” music video.
The documentary has led to criticism of the singer including journalist Diane Sawyer, who told Spears during a 2003 interview she had “disappointed a lot of mothers”, and gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who was involved in the coverage of her 2007 breakdown.
Also, last Sunday’s Super Bowl reminded fans of Timberlake’s history with Jackson as well, when they performed “Rock Your Body” together in the 2004 game’s halftime show.
During the performance, Timberlake pulled at Jackson’s costume, ripping off a piece of her bodice and briefly exposing her breast, resulting in the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” that adversely affected Jackson’s career.
Reacting to the backlash, he wrote: “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 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.
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“I specifically want to apologise to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed. 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 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 recognise 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. I care deeply about the wellbeing of the people I love and have loved. I can do better and I will do better.”
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