After a string of negative incidents tarnishing his once-spotless reputation, fans are re-evaluating the former member of a boy band. Once hailed as the “Prince of Pop” and the recipient of 10 Grammys and four Emmys, Justin Timberlake’s musical legacy seemed untouchable.

As a prominent figure in 1990s and early 2000s pop music, the now 43-year-old Timberlake transitioned from a boyband member and relationship with Britney Spears, who was then the biggest pop star, to a celebrated solo career.

However, Timberlake failed to adapt to the evolving cultural landscape, leading to scrutiny of his past behavior in relation to Spears and Janet Jackson, as well as harsh criticism of his new music.
During a stop on his world tour in New York, Timberlake was arrested for driving under the influence, further damaging his reputation amid the release of his latest studio album, Everything I Thought It Was.

The National chronicles Timberlake’s rise to stardom, subsequent decline, and eventual downfall.
In 1992, at the age of 11, the Tennessee-born star performed Love’s Got a Hold on You by Alan Jackson on the US television talent show Star Search as Justin Randall.

Although he did not emerge as the winner, Timberlake’s experience on the show fueled his pursuit of fame.

From 1993 to 1994, Timberlake secured a spot as a Mouseketeer on the Disney children’s TV show The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, alongside future stars such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
From 1995 to 2002, Timberlake rose to global fame as a member of the boy band Nsync, achieving success with their second album, No Strings Attached, and embarking on their Celebrity Tour before going on hiatus.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Timberlake’s public profile received a significant boost due to his relationship with pop sensation Britney Spears, elevating him above his Nsync bandmates in terms of fame.

In November 2002, Timberlake ventured into a successful solo career with the release of his debut album, Justified, which was produced by Timbaland, The Neptunes, and garnered critical acclaim and commercial success.

Following the release of the album, Timberlake’s bandmate JC Chasez expressed feeling blindsided by his solo career, expressing his sense of betrayal.

The song “Cry Me A River,” released as the second track from Justified, featured a music video with a lookalike of Spears, leading to media and fan speculation about Spears’s alleged infidelity, which Timberlake addressed in an interview with People.

In November 2003, Timberlake’s public image as the wronged party was solidified following Spears’s interview with Diane Sawyer on Primetime.

Justin Timberlake emerged unscathed from the Super Bowl half-time show “wardrobe malfunction,” during which he accidentally revealed Janet Jackson’s breast on live television.

As a result of the incident, Janet Jackson’s music and videos were banned from network platforms, causing long-term damage to her career. She was also banned from the Grammys, where Timberlake performed and won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

In September 2006, after venturing into film, Timberlake released his second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, which was produced by Timbaland and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Three singles from the album, “SexyBack,” “My Love,” and “What Goes Around… Comes Around,” all reached the number one spot.

In 2013, Timberlake’s fourth album, The 20/20 Experience, became the best-selling album of the year in the US. Two of its singles, “Suit and Tie” and “Pusher Love Girl,” won Grammys for Best Music Video and Best R&B Song.

In February 2018, Timberlake released his fifth studio album, Man of The Woods, which received mixed reviews and was not considered a critical success.

In 2019, a paparazzo image of Timberlake holding hands with his co-star Alisha Wainwright made headlines, leading him to publicly apologize to his wife and family on Instagram.

In January 2021, Timberlake and Ant Clemons performed “Better Days” at Joe Biden’s inauguration.

The release of the Framing Britney Spears documentary in February 2021 sparked public anger towards both Timberlake and Diane Sawyer, prompting Timberlake to issue a public apology for his past actions.

In October 2023, Britney Spears released her memoir, The Woman in Me, in which she shared her side of the story about her relationship with Timberlake and how she was portrayed in the media.

In January 2024, Timberlake released “Selfish,” his first song in almost six years, which received a vitriolic viral review from the website Consequence.

In February 2024, Timberlake faced backlash for unrepentant comments made during a concert in New York, leading to social media campaigns to push Britney Spears’ song “Selfish” above Timberlake’s track of the same name in the US iTunes chart.

Timberlake’s sixth album, Everything I Thought I Was, is set for release in March.

In June 2024, the singer was taken into custody and accused of driving under the influence in Sag Harbor, New York, a wealthy area in the Hamptons.

According to a statement from the Sag Harbor Police, Timberlake reportedly drove his BMW through a stop sign and failed to maintain his position on the correct side of the road.

Upon being pulled over, he displayed “bloodshot and glassy” eyes and emitted a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” from his breath, as stated in a charging document. Justin speech was sluggish, and he performed poorly on sobriety tests. Additionally, he declined to take a breathalyzer test.

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