The New York Times dropped a documentary on pop superstar Britney Spears via Hulu on February 5, and the internet is calling out Justin Timberlake.
According to Glamour Magazine, while the documentary, Framing Britney, was meant to zero in on the dark truth behind the ongoing #FreeBritney movement, fans paid attention to the portion dedicated to Spears’s relationship with the former *NSYNC boyband member. They dated from 1998 to 2002.
After a super dramatic breakup, Timberlake dragged Spears’ name through the mud with his music video, Cry Me a River. The backlash she had to face was severe. “The way that people treated her, to be very high school about it, was like she was the school slut and he was the quarterback,” NYT critic at large Wesley Morris says in the film.
Glamour Magazine also pointed out that in 2006, four years after their breakup, Timberlake released another potential diss track, “What Goes Around… Comes Around,” while Spears was publicly struggling with her second divorce and sobriety. Oh wow, right?
This isn’t the only time Timberlake has been under hot water for ruining a pop star’s career. Here’s a quick refresher: in 2004, Timberlake revealed part of Janet Jackson’s breast during the halftime performance of Super Bowl XXXVIII. According to Billboard.com, the incident is still considered one of the most controversial moments on television to date. To add to this, that event allegedly inspired the idea for YouTube.
Needless to say, netizens have been passionate about sharing their thoughts on Timberlake since the release of the documentary. While both women took a tumble in their career, Timberlake’s star rose after all. Framing Britney is currently streaming on Hulu if you’re curious about all the drama, and want to watch it yourself.
