Britney Spears' new online post about ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake has sparked a wild conspiracy theory online.
On Sunday night, Spears took to Instagram to applaud the singer's new song "Selfish," released on Thursday.
Despite mixed reactions on social media, the tune soared straight to the top of the U.S. iTunes chart. However, the song's success did not go down well with Spears' fan base, who managed to make her 2011 track of the same name overtake Timberlake's single.
The backlash against the 42-year-old was in response to claims Spears made in her memoir, The Woman in Me, released in October. The book included several revelations about her romance with Timberlake. Dubbed the "Prince and Princess of Pop," the former couple dated from 1999 to 2002.
Spears addressed rumors of infidelity during their relationship, explaining she had kissed choreographer Wade Robson but that Timberlake had been unfaithful to her first. She also confessed to having an abortion while the couple were together, sharing her heartache over the decision.
"I wanna apologize for some of the things I wrote about in my book," the 41-year-old said on Instagram, alongside a promo clip of Timberlake's recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
"If I offended any of the people I genuinely care about I am deeply sorry... I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake's new song "Selfish" 🌹 It is soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard ???"
She also praised Timberlake's track Sanctified, which he debuted on Saturday Night Live this weekend.
However, fans of Spears are convinced the public apology to Timberlake is a result of her account being hacked.
"Why i dont think she wrote this," said @davemastermind on X, formerly Twitter.
"She was hacked," claimed Tony.
Other users were convinced the pop star was paid to make the declaration, despite a lack of evidence.
"How much did he pay her for this," asked dominic.
@TheBfltEffect13 agreed, writing: "Did he pay her or something what's going on here."
"I don't believe for one second she wrote that. He paid who ever still has control of her accounts to post that. #FreeBritney," said Marie Dede.
Some accused Timberlake's team of coercing Spears into praising him online, although again, there is no evidence to support this.
"Did justin's team tell her to write that," said @beyswede.
"Omg do we need to free her again?" wrote lesego, referencing the "Free Britney" movement that campaigned to release Spears from her controversial conservatorship.
"Definitely someone called her," wrote @LatinQueenE. "I don't think this came from her own thoughts. Someone swayed her."
Newsweek has reached out to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake for comment via email.
Following the release of the Woman in Me, many Spears' fans hit out at Timberlake, accusing the former NSYNC star of launching a highly-successful solo career by ruining her reputation.
His 2002 hit "Cry Me a River," from his debut album Justified, is written from the perspective of a man whose girlfriend has been unfaithful, and shows Timberlake stalking a Spears lookalike in the video.
The VMA winner also leaned into the rumors that Spears' had cheated on him during interviews, along with discussing details of their sex life during Justified's promotional tour.
Spears spoke of the time in her memoir, writing: "In the news media, I was described as a harlot who'd broken the heart of America's golden boy.
"There's always more leeway in Hollywood for men than for women. And I see how men are encouraged to talk trash about women in order to become famous and powerful. But I was shattered."
Following his split with Spears, Timberlake wed actress Jessica Biel, with whom he shares sons Silas, 8, and Phineas, 2.
Spears was married to dancer Kevin Federline from 2004 to 2007, with the ex-couple sharing 18-year-old Sean Preston and 17-year-old Jayden James. She tied the knot with personal trainer Sam Asghari in 2022 after five years of dating, but they split just 14 months later.
The release of The Woman in Me coincided with NSYNC's reunion at the MTV VMA ceremony in September. Timberlake was a member of the hugely popular boyband from 1995 to 2002, with fans wondering if the revelations would derail a rumored tour.
Timberlake's sixth studio album, Everything I Thought I Was, will be released on March 15, while the singer has also announced the Forget Tomorrow World Tour, beginning in April.
Update 1/29/24, 7:09 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a new video, new image and additional information.
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