Justin Timberlake issued an apology to Britney Spears for the unkind things he said about her after their break-up, which received renewed scrutiny in light of the New York Times' documentary, Framing Britney Spears. The documentary showed how the media blamed Britney for the break-up of her high-profile relationship with Justin in the early 2000s, including an interview with Diane Sawyer asking Britney what she did to break Justin's heart.
In his apology, Justin states, "I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond,” he wrote. “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."
He added, "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 went on to blame the industry for elevating white men, and Justin acknowledges that his apology doesn't absolve his past actions.
As for Janet Jackson, Timberlake never defended her publicly after he pulled back part of her costume during their 2004 Super Bowl Halftime performance, exposing her breast. The incident led to Janet being asked to publicly apologize. Meanwhile, Justin was asked to return and perform as the headliner for the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show in 2018.
You can read his full apology above.
