JUSTIN Timberlake has opened up about a debilitating health diagnosis after facing major backlash for his world tour performance.
Timberlake shared the shocking update amid criticism from fans that he appears “lazy” and “tired” on stage.
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The singer commemorated wrapping up the The Forget Tomorrow World Tour on July 30 with a lengthy post on Instagram explaining his recent diagnosis.
“This has been the most fun, emotional, gratifying, physically demanding, and, at times, grueling experience,” the former NSYNC member said of his solo tour.
“I could not have done it without my family, friends, The TN Kids, and all of YOUR support.”
Timberlake went on to reveal that he’s been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
He said he was sharing his diagnosis “to shed some light on what I’ve been up against behind the scenes.”
Throughout the tour, the singer has been accused of “hardly singing,” with many branding his performances “lazy.”
Lyme disease symptoms
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection which can cause:
- Serious joint pain
- Nervous system pain which can lead to paralysis of facial muscles, memory problems and difficulties concentrating
- Heart problems, such as inflammation of the heart muscle
- Inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord as with meningitis
“Justin Timberlake really thought he could do the bare minimum & get away with it?” one person posted on social media.
In his post, Timberlake addressed his performance and the difficulties he experienced on stage.
“When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure,” he wrote.
“But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”
Timberlake said the diagnosis forced him to decide whether to keep touring or to put a hold on all of his shows.
He previously considered quitting touring after the most recent series of “exhausting” concerts, The U.S. Sun reported.
“I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going,” he wrote on Thursday.
The singer went on to say he is trying to be more transparent amid his diagnosis so others don’t misinterpret his actions.
“Sharing all of this with the hope that we can all find a way to be more connected,” he wrote.
Other celebs diagnosed with Lyme disease
These stars have spoken candidly about their battle with the tick-borne disease:
- Yolanda Hadid
- Bella Hadid
- Anwar Hadid
- Riley Keough
- Amy Schumer
- Justin Bieber
- Avril Lavigne
- Shania Twain
- Ben Stiller
- Alec Baldwin
- Kelly Osbourne
- Miranda Hart
“I’d like to do my part to help others experiencing this disease, too.”
Timberlake concluded his post by thanking his friends, family, fans, and crew members for their support over the past two years.
Timberlake has been on the road with the Forget Tomorrow World Tour since April 2024. It was his first world tour since the 2018-2019 Man of the Woods Tour.
WHAT IS LYME DISEASE?
Other celebrities such as Bella Hadid and her mom Yolanda, singers Justin Bieber and Avril Lavigne, and actor Ben Stiller have also had Lyme disease, which is generally curable with antibiotics.
The disease is a bacterial infection carried by ticks, which spreads when they bite humans.
Those with Lyme disease can experience flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, headache, swollen joints and a fever, which can last for a few weeks.
What to do if you get bitten
If you’ve been bitten by a tick, it will attach to your skin.
You should try to remove it as soon as possible. This helps to reduce the risk of getting a tick-borne infection, like Lyme disease.
This is a bacterial infection that causes a pink or red circular rash to develop around the area of the bite.
You should:
- Use a tick removal device or fine-toothed tweezers to gently grip the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull steadily away from the skin without crushing the tick.
- Wash your skin with water and soap afterwards.
- Apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite.
Do not use a cigarette end, match head, alcohol or petroleum jelly on a tick.
Many pharmacies and outdoor stores sell tick-removal devices.
These are useful if you often spend time in areas where there are ticks.
If the tick’s mouthparts break off in the skin and can not be removed, this may cause irritation. But, they should fall out naturally in time.
Source: NHS
Yolanda has been very vocal about the extreme depression and illnesses she’s experienced from the disease.
“I can’t begin to describe the darkness, the pain and the hell I lived through every day,” the mother told British Vogue in February 2021.
“This disease brought me to my knees.”
