In the wake of allegations of sexism and misogyny against Justin Timberlake regarding his treatment of ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, and the “wardrobe malfunction” with Janet Jackson in the Super Bowl in 2004, he apologized to both in an Instagram -post.
“I’ve seen the posts, tags, comments and concerns and I want to respond,” he wrote. “I am very sorry for the times in my life when my actions contributed to the problem, when I spoke out of turn or did not stand up for what was right. I understand that in these moments and many others I fell short and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.
“I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson, both separately, because I care about and respect these women and I know I have failed.”
In both cases, his apology stretches back nearly 20 years: he and Spears dated when they were both teenage stars, and during that time he publicly said he had slept with her (she had claimed she was waiting for her to be married), and later vaguely accused her of cheating – a story set in the video for his 2002 song “Cry Me a River,” featuring an actress who looked like Spears.
This situation recently surfaced in the documentary “Framing Britney Spears,” which focuses on the conservatorship she has been under since 2008, but more broadly the sexist and judgmental way she has been treated by the media and others throughout her career. .
The Super Bowl scandal revolves around what Timberlake described as a “clothing malfunction,” in which he pulled back part of Jackson’s outfit and exposed her chest, sparking massive public outrage and an aggressive investigation by the Federal Communication Commission. While the situation was never fully explained publicly, Jackson faced the most criticism, while Timberlake – who was the one who pulled back her garment – largely evaded responsibility and became one of the world’s biggest music stars in the ensuing years. , even returning as the Super Bowl halftime performer in 2018. Jackson’s career, on the other hand, took a serious hit in popularity and public opinion, and in many ways it never fully recovered.
Timberlake’s post concludes, “I also feel compelled to respond, in part because everyone involved deserves better and especially because this is a bigger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be a part of and grow from.”
“Framing Britney Spears,” said producer-director Samantha Stark Variety. last week that she did not approach Timberlake for comment about his treatment of the singer. “We didn’t ask Justin Timberlake for comment, any more than we asked a number of other people who appear in archive footage for comment,” she said. “Interviewees make comments about the media coverage surrounding the breakup … Unlike other people we’ve asked for comment, we’re not making any charges against Justin. We just let the images play. “