Justin Timberlake has apologized to both his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears and Janet Jackson, with whom he performed in the Halftime Super Bowl show in 2004.
“I’ve seen the posts, tags, comments and concerns and I want to respond,” Timberlake wrote on Instagram. “I am very sorry for the times in my life when my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn or did not stand up for what was right.”
“I understand that at these and many other times I fell short and benefited from a system that favors misogyny and racism,” he added. “I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson, both individually, because I care about and respect these women and I know I have failed.”
Timberlake has been criticized for his treatment of Spears after the release of a New York Times documentary about her fame and legal battleSpears and Timberlake dated from 1999 to 2002. According to the film, Timberlake portrayed her as unfaithful in the press and with his 2002 music video “Cry Me a River” after the couple split.
Timberlake panned for years for not initially defending Jackson, who was widely blamed for the infamous wardrobe malfunction that exposed her chest during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. The incident crippled Jackson’s career and cost Timberlake several years to go to Jackson’s defense in public.
“I haven’t been perfect in navigating all of this throughout my career,” Timberlake said Friday. “I know this apology is a first step and does not release the past. In all of this I want to be accountable for my own mistakes and be part of a world that rejoices and supports.”