Justin Timberlake reveals he got the flu amid press tour for new music, Britney Spears backlash

Justin Timberlake reveals he got the flu amid whirlwind press tour for new music, Britney Spears backlash

Justin Timberlake isn’t letting an illness — or backlash from Britney Spears’ fans — stop him from promoting his new music.

The Grammy winner took to Instagram Saturday to perform an acoustic rendition of his new song, “Selfish,” after coming down with the flu.

“Still getting over the flu which makes it silly to sing so excuse the raspy voice but messing around with an acoustic version of SELFISH,” Timberlake wrote in the caption next to his video.

In the clip, the *NSYNC member, 43, could be seen wearing a cream-colored cardigan while playing on an acoustic guitar in what appeared to be a music studio.

The intimate Instagram moment is just one of many times Timberlake has performed “Selfish” in recent days.

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Justin Timberlake revealed he got the flu.Justin Timberlake/Instagram

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The singer said he came down with the illness while promoting his new music.Justin Timberlake/Instagram

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He’s also been facing backlash from ex Britney Spears’ fans.Getty Images
The 43-year-old released the new track on Jan. 25 before going on to perform it on “Saturday Night Live,” then during a hometown concert in Memphis, Tenn., on late-night TV with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, and at a free show for fans at Irving Plaza in New York City.

While Timberlake’s fans have been raving over his new music, Spears’ supporters haven’t been so kind.

The “Toxic” singer’s fans streamed her 2011 song of the same name as Timberlake’s single in an effort to squander his sales.

The move was seemingly in retaliation for Spears’ recent admission in her bestselling book, “Woman in Me,” that her ex allegedly pushed her to have an abortion during their early aughts relationship.

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After Spears’ fans squandered the sales of his new single, “Selfish,” he shaded her during a NYC concert on Wednesday.SplashNews.com

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Spears then took to Instagram to clap back and say she wasn’t sorry for anything she wrote about him in her memoir, “The Woman In Me.”
After her fans succeeded, Spears, 42, took to Instagram to apologize to Timberlake for revealing their secrets in her Oct. 2023 memoir. She also raved about his new single.

However, the “SexyBack” singer didn’t seem to care, as he then shaded her during his NYC concert on Wednesday.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to absolutely f–king nobody,” Timberlake told the audience before singing his 2002 hit “Cry Me a River,” which was inspired by the pop star cheating on him.

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Timberlake is still moving forward with the March 15 release of his new album, “Everything I Thought I Was.”Getty Images for Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Following the onstage diss, Spears clapped back via Instagram Thursday, saying she’s no longer sorry.

Timberlake has not responded and is still charging forward with his press tour.

The father of two, who shares sons Silas, 8, and Phineas, 3, with wife Jessica Biel, is set to release his new album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” on March 15.