Justin Timberlake makes shocking health reveal; admits ‘debilitating' Lyme disease diagnosis after backlash over lacklustre shows

Indian Express

21 hours ago

Justin Timberlake has revealed he's been quietly battling Lyme disease, a condition that left him exhausted, in pain, and still pushing through his tour without saying a word. After taking heat for underwhelming shows and calls for retirement, the pop prince broke his silence on Thursday with a long Instagram note to fans. He said he's usually private, but felt it was time to lay it all out and explain what's really been going on behind the scenes.
The 44-year-old shared the news on Instagram right after wrapping up his two-year-long Forget Tomorrow tour, which ended in Turkey. 'It's not an easy task to try to contextualise the whirlwind of touring, but I will try,' he wrote, before thanking everyone who made the tour a solid chapter in his career. 'This has been the most fun, emotional, gratifying, physically demanding, and at times, gruelling experience. I've been doing this for 30+ years,' Timberlake said. 'And I've given all that I have to this. I couldn't have done it without my family, friends, The TN Kids, and all of YOUR support.'
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The Cry Me a River crooner then revealed, 'Among other things, 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.' He said he was shocked at first, but the diagnosis finally explained why he was on stage feeling sharp nerve pain, complete exhaustion, or getting hit with a sudden round of sickness. He came close to ending the tour early, but kept going. 'Living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,' he said. 'I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I'm so glad I kept going.'
He admitted he was reluctant to open up, having been raised to keep personal struggles private. 'But I'm trying to be more transparent about my struggles so they're not misinterpreted.' The singer continued, 'sharing all of this with the hope that we can all find a way to be more connected. I'd like to do my part to help others experiencing this disease too.'
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Lyme is a bacterial infection spread by infected ticks. In some cases, patients recover quickly after antibiotics and proper treatment, especially if it's diagnosed early. But for others, symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, or brain fog can stick around for years. Just before the revelations, the singer faced backlash from fans for his lacklustre performances. One viral video even showed him barely singing and just strolling around the stage. But now, after the diagnosis, it makes sense to many why he seemed completely distracted. Fans have been flooding his posts with support and love. Timberlake admitted he hadn't told the public, or even close friends, because he didn't want the silence to be mistaken for not trying.
In the past, Justin Bieber, Shania Twain, and Avril Lavigne have all revealed their battle with Lyme disease. Timberlake, who led the boy band *NSYNC, kicked off his tour in April 2024, just a month after dropping his album Everything I Thought It Was. The singer has earned 10 Grammys as a solo artist and remains one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.