“Da** It, I Was Sick!”: Justin Timberlake Finally Admits the Real Reason Behind His Awful Performance — And the Questions Just Keep Coming
Justin Timberlake has been diagnosed with “debilitating” Lyme disease.
The singer made the health admission in a lengthy Instagram statement Thursday reflecting on his Forget Tomorrow tour, which wrapped in Turkey on Wednesday.
“I’ve been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease -— which I don’t say so you feel bad for me –– but to shed some light on what I’ve been up against behind the scenes,” the 44-year-old told his followers.
Justin Timberlake revealed his Lyme disease diagnosis via Instagram Thursday.
The singer made the admission while reflecting on his Forget Tomorrow tour.Jasmine Aissaoui/INSTARimages
Timberlake noted that Lyme disease, which is a bacterial infection spread by tics, “can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.”
Being diagnosed helped the “shocked” Grammy winner understand “why [he] would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”
He continued, “I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out.”
He called the condition “debilitating.”justintimberlake/Instagram
The former *NSYNC member has experienced a “massive amount of nerve pain” and “crazy fatigue or sickness.”justintimberlake/Instagram
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The former *NSYNC member ultimately decided, “The joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling.”
He is “so glad [he] kept going” to prove his “mental tenacity” and share “special moments” with fans.
Timberlake acknowledged elsewhere in his caption that he chose to be “transparent about [his] struggles” so they would not be “misinterpreted.”
The Grammy winner debated going on tour post-diagnosis but ultimately decided to do so.justintimberlake/Instagram
However, he didn’t want his “struggles” to be “misinterpreted.”Redferns
The “Cry Me a River” singer, notably, has been blasted for lackluster performances since kicking off his tour in April 2024.
In one viral video shared via TikTok last week, Timberlake strolled around the stage and engaged in occasional dance moves, rarely bringing the microphone to his mouth.
“Go on girl, give us nothing,” one social media user wrote of the compilation.
One fan complained, “I get that you have a lot of concerts and are touring the world, or whatever, but you cannot be singing less than a quarter of a song.”
Timberlake, notably, has been blasted online for recent lackluster performances.DPTIG / BACKGRID
Additionally, Timberlake made headlines earlier this month when he was caught on camera screaming at crew members over an issue-riddled performance in England.
The songwriter’s wife, Jessica Biel, showed her support for her partner Thursday by reposting his health news to her own Story.
The couple have been married since 2012 and share two sons — Silas, 10, and Phineas, 5.
