Highlights
- Justin Timberlake’s portrayed himself as the victim after his breakup with Britney Spears.
- Fans have speculated that Spears’ song “Everytime” may allude to a terminated pregnancy.
- Timberlake faced criticism for co-writing and producing a song mocking Spears’ mental health struggles.
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake‘s highly publicized relationship was a teenage dream widely adored by the public in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Although the former power couple parted ways in 2002, Timberlake continues to face backlash for his role in Spears’ mental health struggles.
Despite Timberlake’s apology and well-wishes for Spears, some cannot forget how he capitalized on their breakup and portrayed himself as the victim. This sentiment has been exacerbated by the reinterpretation of Spears’ 2003 song “Everytime,” which occurred after the pop music icon revealed in her memoir, The Woman In Me, the agonizing choice she made to have an abortion while in a relationship with Timberlake.
Was Britney Spears’ “Everytime” About Her Unborn Child?
Britney Spears’ song “Everytime” held a deeply personal significance for the superstar, being one of the most intimate tracks on her 2003 album, “In the Zone.” The song garnered critical acclaim and made its mark on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the Top 15. Speculation had long surrounded the song, suggesting it was her response to Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River.”
In October 2023, Spears revealed in her memoir, The Woman in Me, that during her relationship with Timberlake, she became pregnant and had an abortion, influenced by Timberlake’s belief that they were not ready for parenthood at their young age.
Since this revelation, fans have begun to reconsider the meaning of “Everytime,” wondering if it also alludes to the terminated pregnancy. The song’s lyrics, especially in the chorus, where Spears sings about feeling small without her partner and needing him, have sparked discussions about its connection to her experience.
The accompanying music video features Spears in a hospital setting, where she encounters scenes of both birth and death. In one of the final shots, a close-up of a newborn appears, prompting speculations that this baby symbolizes the child Spears felt compelled to abort.
“The baby in the ‘Everytime’ music video was the baby Britney felt forced to abort. My heart,” one person wrote on X/Twitter.
While some fans have theorized about the song’s deeper meaning, Spears has never explicitly confirmed or denied that it is about Timberlake.
“‘Everytime’ is just a really nice song because it’s kind of personal in a weird way…” Spears shared with Hip Online. In a 2003 interview with Diane Sawyer, she stated, “I’ll let the song just speak for itself.”
Justin Timberlake Launched His Career With A Song About Britney Spears
Justin Timberlake’s most iconic musical reference to Britney Spears is his song “Cry Me A River.” The song found its place on his debut solo album in 2002, “Justified,” which also included hits like “Rock Your Body” and “Señorita.” It’s widely believed that the song, which won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, was aimed at Spears.
Following the release of “Cry Me a River,” Timberlake discussed it with MTV News. “I’m not going to specifically say if any song is about anybody. I will say writing a couple of songs on the record helped me deal with a couple of things…” he told the outlet.
However, in 2011, he changed his initial explanation and admitted that the song was written after a heated phone argument with Spears. “I was on a phone call that was not the most enjoyable phone call. I walked into the studio, and he [Timbaland] could tell I was visibly angry,” Timberlake recalled to E! True Hollywood Story and explained how he channeled his anger into the song.
Timbaland also corroborated this account in the same interview, “I was like, ‘Man, don’t worry about it’ and he was like, ‘I can’t believe she did that to me’ and he was like, ‘You were my sun, you were my earth,’” Timbaland recalled.
The music video for “Cry Me a River” features a blonde woman, which fueled speculations that Timberlake and Spears had parted ways due to infidelity. Still, Timberlake chose not to address the rumors and revealed in an interview with Barbara Walters that they had agreed not to disclose the specific reasons behind their breakup. “We’re not perfect. I don’t judge anybody. It’s just young love. It was a very intense relationship, that’s for sure,” he stated.
Justin Timberlake Faced Backlash After He Co-Wrote And Produced A Song Mocking Britney Spears’ Mental Health Issues
In 2007, during one of Britney Spears’ most tumultuous years in the media, Justin Timberlake ridiculed her mental health struggles through a song he co-wrote with Duran Duran. “Falling Down” is a song dramatization of her rehab experience.
After the song and its accompanying music video were released, rumors began to circulate that Spears was the inspiration behind the track. In an interview with People Magazine, Duran Duran confirmed that they loosely based the song on Spears, while Timberlake also contributed to its production.
The song’s title and its lyrics resonate with the challenges Spears faced during that period. She was relentlessly pursued and harassed by the paparazzi and media, all while grappling with her mental health.
The lyrics of the song sound like a desperate call during a very public breakdown, “I’m falling down, with people standing round. But before I hit the ground, is there time? Could I find someone out there to help me?”
Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran explained that “Falling Down” is a satirical commentary on celebrity culture, where stars suddenly disappear into rehab, seemingly never to return. Drummer Roger Taylor also emphasized that the video was a fantasized portrayal of the rehab experience that many young stars undergo.
Fans are pointing out that Timberlake may not have exercised creative control over the video since he doesn’t make an appearance in it, but considering his role as the song’s producer, many might find it hard to believe. Nevertheless, given Timberlake’s past references to Spears in his music and interviews, which contributed to the negative portrayal of Spears in the media, it does appear inconsiderate for Timberlake and Duran Duran to exploit her struggles.
Source: NewsFinale
