Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears: Competition Resurfaces on Music Charts

Recent events have seen Justin Timberlake’s past intertwining with his current musical journey. After releasing his latest single “Selfish,” his first in six years, he finds himself facing competition on iTunes from none other than Britney Spears, his former flame. Despite being a decade old, a 2011 song by Spears named “Selfish” resurfaced and climbed to the top of the iTunes chart, pushing Timberlake’s new release to third place. However, as of now, the Spears’ song is yet to break into the Spotify charts, but has secured airtime on various radio stations. News sources confirmed this piece of information come from Reader Wall.

Fan Support Fuels Echoes of the Past

Tightly-knit fan groups of Spears rallied, collectively purchasing the decade-old song in response to Timberlake’s new release. This concerted effort pushed the song, which was never before released as a single, to the top of the iTunes chart within a day. Subsequently, songs by Tom MacDonald and Ben Shapiro, “FACTS” trumped both versions of “Selfish” songs on the iTunes chart.

Timberlake’s Return: A Mix of Music and Controversy

It’s noteworthy that Timberlake has not released any solo music since his 2018 album, “Man of the Woods”. His return however has been embroiled in controversy, resurfacing issues relating to his mistreatment of Spears after the end of their relationship in 2002, and his infamous 2004 Super Bowl incident with Janet Jackson. The 2021 documentary, “Framing Britney Spears” brought these incidents to the forefront, prompting a public apology from Timberlake for his behavior towards both women, which was seen as both sexist and racist.

Expressing remorse, Timberlake acknowledged his past mistakes and the role he played in contributing to a system that reinforces misogyny and racism. He vowed to strive for better behavior in the future.

Renewed Focus on Timberlake’s Past

Spear’s recent memoir, titled “The Woman In Me”, published in 2023, put the spotlight once again on Timberlake’s past behavior. In her memoir, she revealed that she had to undergo an abortion as Timberlake wasn’t ready to be a father yet. In the memoir, Spears described how she coped with the agonizing situation while Timberlake remained by her side, strumming his guitar in an attempt to offer comfort.