Of his arguably most famous ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears, Timberlake tells Grigoriadis, “I wish her the best—that goes without saying. We haven’t spoken in 9 or 10 years.” The former child star says that most of his and Spears’s relationship was based on circumstance, but had no chance for the long term. “We were two birds of the same feather—small-town kids, doing the same thing. But then you become adults, and the way you were as kids doesn’t make any sense. I won’t speak on her, but at least for me, I was a totally different person,” he says. “I just don’t think we were normal; there was nothing normal about our existence. We spent way too much time being the biggest thing for teenyboppers.”

“It was exciting that we were having so much success and we could do whatever we wanted. And I mean that about everybody: Backstreet Boys, ’NSync, Britney, Christina,” Timberlake says of his early years as a pop idol. “At that time, we could literally go, ‘Oh, man, let’s go to Bali,’ and we’d be on a plane to Bali. We were little kids with big toys. You do the math—that’s not going to last.” Some very big toys, indeed, as Timberlake recalls that on the set of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, “Ryan [Gosling] and I used to steal golf carts and go driving in the middle of the park to get milk shakes, and we never got in trouble for it. We thought we were big shit.”

pop icon my ass

He's well on his way to being an SNL icon, some funny shit on there he's done

Seems like a level headed guy based on this interview. He didn't become a casualty and he could look back and put things into perspective.

Why is he even answering questions about her - what went on with them is private, and just like he said, it's been years. It's not like he's obligated to answer anything. He could just flat-out tell the reporters not to ask any Britney questions.

He bugs me. He just gets away with being such a smug prick and he gets away with it.

He basically outed Britney as not being a virgin. As armpit noted, what happened between them was private....but he had to out her at teh time. OK. Fine. he was young and famous.

But a few years later, there was Janet and Superboob. He came out not only blaming her but unscatched and bigger than before. After many years, only recently did Janet totally shak that off as far as the public is concerned. They forgot only a few years ago with "Number Ones"....which didn't exactly set the world on fire. With the tour and recent movies, she is only know starting to slowly come back. Maybe if she releases a really strong album and/or single, she can be back on top.

But Justin? He brought "SexyBack" in 2006 and has been resting on his laurels ever since. And his movies? He can do a decent character role every so often but he is NOT a leading man. He can try as he might, but he just isn't that good.

armpit said:

Why is he even answering questions about her - what went on with them is private, and just like he said, it's been years. It's not like he's obligated to answer anything. He could just flat-out tell the reporters not to ask any Britney questions.

It's called being obsessed.

VinnyM27 said:

He bugs me. He just gets away with being such a smug prick and he gets away with it.

He basically outed Britney as not being a virgin. As armpit noted, what happened between them was private....but he had to out her at teh time. OK. Fine. he was young and famous.

But a few years later, there was Janet and Superboob. He came out not only blaming her but unscatched and bigger than before. After many years, only recently did Janet totally shak that off as far as the public is concerned. They forgot only a few years ago with "Number Ones"....which didn't exactly set the world on fire. With the tour and recent movies, she is only know starting to slowly come back. Maybe if she releases a really strong album and/or single, she can be back on top.

But Justin? He brought "SexyBack" in 2006 and has been resting on his laurels ever since. And his movies? He can do a decent character role every so often but he is NOT a leading man. He can try as he might, but he just isn't that good.

It's just something about that whole Britney quote that just rubs me the wrong way in a way I can't really explain.

Musically I'm a fan, and I think he's cute as hell too, but I just thought the whole Britney comment was in incredibly poor taste.

Like the music his producers make, can't stand the man's cockiness, though he's sometimes cute.

armpit said:

VinnyM27 said:

He bugs me. He just gets away with being such a smug prick and he gets away with it.

He basically outed Britney as not being a virgin. As armpit noted, what happened between them was private....but he had to out her at teh time. OK. Fine. he was young and famous.

But a few years later, there was Janet and Superboob. He came out not only blaming her but unscatched and bigger than before. After many years, only recently did Janet totally shak that off as far as the public is concerned. They forgot only a few years ago with "Number Ones"....which didn't exactly set the world on fire. With the tour and recent movies, she is only know starting to slowly come back. Maybe if she releases a really strong album and/or single, she can be back on top.

But Justin? He brought "SexyBack" in 2006 and has been resting on his laurels ever since. And his movies? He can do a decent character role every so often but he is NOT a leading man. He can try as he might, but he just isn't that good.

It's just something about that whole Britney quote that just rubs me the wrong way in a way I can't really explain.

Musically I'm a fan, and I think he's cute as hell too, but I just thought the whole Britney comment was in incredibly poor taste.

BTW, didn't mean for the rest to be in bold. Haven't been on the Org in a while but I had a music question.

musicjunky318 said:

armpit said:

Why is he even answering questions about her - what went on with them is private, and just like he said, it's been years. It's not like he's obligated to answer anything. He could just flat-out tell the reporters not to ask any Britney questions.

It's called being obsessed.

I think I figured out what bothers me about the quote.

I think he agreed to the Britney questions, because he knew those would get folks attention and generate more press and publicity for himself. Then when they ask him about her, he pretty much refers to her in the most dismissive way possible.

That was just an incredibly sleazeball thing to do. You don't give a shit about her anymore and haven't spoken to her in years, but you'll use her name to generate free publicity for yourself?

Nice guy.

[Edited 6/3/11 13:14pm]

armpit said:

musicjunky318 said:

It's called being obsessed.

I think I figured out what bothers me about the quote.

I think he agreed to the Britney questions, because he knew those would get folks attention and generate more press and publicity for himself. Then when they ask him about her, he pretty much refers to her in the most dismissive way possible.

That was just an incredibly sleazeball thing to do. You don't give a shit about her anymore and haven't spoken to her in years, but you'll use her name to generate free publicity for yourself?

Nice guy.

[Edited 6/3/11 13:14pm]

Well its the same old thing, men continue to use "women issues" to keep them in the light. I mean Chris Brown, though a different kind of issue, certainly didnt run from the Rihanna thing, dude was on Hot 97 after he was released joking about it. Yeah i think if look at ANYTHING Britney has done in the last few years since the whole "shaved head" shit, she hasnt said a word about the man, ever, positive or negative, and Justin has, shows the difference, because if she were talking about him we would be on her ass as would the media. Nick Lachey pulled this shit on Jessica Simpson and everyone sided with his ass as the SCORNED man, who by the way, was banging chicks left and right while Jessica saved herself for marriage, nice guy right. But i think Justin is funny, he is a snobby type kid always was, always had a chip on his shoulder, musically i dont hate him or really like him enough to be like "oh shit hes got something new" but he does have talent as does she.

armpit said:

musicjunky318 said:

It's called being obsessed.

I think I figured out what bothers me about the quote.

I think he agreed to the Britney questions, because he knew those would get folks attention and generate more press and publicity for himself. Then when they ask him about her, he pretty much refers to her in the most dismissive way possible.

That was just an incredibly sleazeball thing to do. You don't give a shit about her anymore and haven't spoken to her in years, but you'll use her name to generate free publicity for yourself?

Nice guy.

[Edited 6/3/11 13:14pm]

It's always been that way ever since they broke up. It's obvious he never got over it or her so he takes any and every opportunity to diss her, bring her up, throw in a back-handed compliment...

It's disgusting.

Justin was not telling a lie, and misleading an untold number of young people about something as personally meaningful and culturally influential as his virginity. But perhaps I am wrong in thinking that her virginity was something important to B; perhaps she was just trying to "generate free publicity for yourherself?" As I recall, from a distance, there was some information coming out from her much older high school lover who was partially living with B and her family while doing homework and science lab assignments naked in a virginal missionary position in the privacy of her bedroom. "Don't hang up, just talk about it."

And Janet? Yes, she is royalty, but her own brothers have done more damage to her life and career than Justin could imagine in his little head during a lifetime of little head imagining. And Ms. Jackson has been known to be a less than forthcoming, for whatever reason, with the real deal truth on occasion.

We are allowed to Hate (or simply have no interest in) Justin all we want. We are not required to justify our hatred or disinterest in him by manufacturing meaning behind events between he and B or Janet.

When I first saw "'N Sync" on television in the beginning of the nineties, I would always focus on Justin Timberlake. IMO, He had the best rhythm and dance moves out of the whole group. I will give him his props. Also Justin's a good vocalist and great dancer. I like him because he doesn't seem to take his self too seriously.

Like remember the video on youtube of "dick in a box?" That was hilarious. I'm listening to it right now. I think Justin Timberlake is cool.

It would've been nice if Britney had not been so overwhelmed and have to go through such a dark period in her life. Everything is not always meant to be.

allsmutaside said:

Justin was not telling a lie, and misleading an untold number of young people about something as personally meaningful and culturally influential as his virginity. But perhaps I am wrong in thinking that her virginity was something important to B; perhaps she was just trying to "generate free publicity for yourherself?" As I recall, from a distance, there was some information coming out from her much older high school lover who was partially living with B and her family while doing homework and science lab assignments naked in a virginal missionary position in the privacy of her bedroom. "Don't hang up, just talk about it."

And Janet? Yes, she is royalty, but her own brothers have done more damage to her life and career than Justin could imagine in his little head during a lifetime of little head imagining. And Ms. Jackson has been known to be a less than forthcoming, for whatever reason, with the real deal truth on occasion.

We are allowed to Hate (or simply have no interest in) Justin all we want. We are not required to justify our hatred or disinterest in him by manufacturing meaning behind events between he and B or Janet.

Um, what? I suppose you are talking about Michael here. His career or personal troubles have never really affected her career. At least not in a major way. Maybe the Family name, but not Janet's career. MJ has nothing to do with Janet's success or failures. The Superbowl had a bigger impact on her than anything. Janet was in fact blacklisted by radio and MTV because of the Superbowl, while Justin's career did not seem to suffer at all.

O/T: Janet wasn't blacklisted by radio but she was banned by MTV. I remember they took it too far by covering their windows because of the 20 Y.O. promo across the street at Virgin megastore.

Justin's career didn't suffer because he's a man and it wasn't his tit that was revealed to the world.

BTW, allsmutaside does have a point. Janet's relation to MJ back in the '03 - '05 time period made her out to be a 'freak' and 'weirdo' because MJ and his other siblings were being dubbed this as well. There's a possibility that it did have an effect on her already scarred image. Not saying that MJ or her siblings were responsible for her decline but they did play a part in how the public portrayed her as a Jackson.

Anyway, it seems to me that Justin misses Britney.

Britney cheated on Justin (well that was the story) you expect him to be nice about it ? Give me a break. She was the only girl I liked Justin with oh well that’s life.

There is something about this guy i really don't like. There is something mean about him.

btw, i never thought he was hot....he's pretty average looking, he just got a good stylist.

On Britney and him, oh well, they were so young....who cares what happened than?

I don't like Punk Ass Bitch, aka Justin Timberlake one bit, but I do like his music. That said, I will never forget how when Justin was with Britney, everyone thought it was true love and that they would marry and have kids. Um, no. Punk ass is right-they were awfully young and when you are that young, famous and rich to boot, you have a lot of, shall we say options and I am sure that BOTH sides exercised those options. No, they were not meant to be, but who is, really?

babybugz said:

Britney cheated on Justin (well that was the story) you expect him to be nice about it ? Give me a break. She was the only girl I liked Justin with oh well that’s life.

I think Brit admitted that she cheated on him with Wade... In Brits song "Everytime" she says "I may have made it rain. Please forgive me. My weakness caused you pain and this song is my sorry" in response to JT's "Cry Me a River" with his line "You don't have to say what you did, I already know. I found out from HIM"

ViintageJunkiie said:

babybugz said:

Britney cheated on Justin (well that was the story) you expect him to be nice about it ? Give me a break. She was the only girl I liked Justin with oh well that’s life.

I think Brit admitted that she cheated on him with Wade... In Brits song "Everytime" she says "I may have made it rain. Please forgive me. My weakness caused you pain and this song is my sorry" in response to JT's "Cry Me a River" with his line "You don't have to say what you did, I already know. I found out from HIM"

Their lyrics are so deep

He did seem to play the scorned man. But I have heard through the years that he cheated on both Britney and Jessica Biel. I remember Lindsay Lohan tried to call him out once on twitter about Jessica Biel but i think she deleted it if I remember correctly. She probably had too much drama to deal with already.

scriptgirl said:

I don't like Punk Ass Bitch, aka Justin Timberlake one bit, but I do like his music. That said, I will never forget how when Justin was with Britney, everyone thought it was true love and that they would marry and have kids. Um, no. Punk ass is right-they were awfully young and when you are that young, famous and rich to boot, you have a lot of, shall we say options and I am sure that BOTH sides exercised those options. No, they were not meant to be, but who is, really?

Thw whole "we're in true love" angle was really pushed by their publicists to portray this wholesome image whcih wasn't really there to begin with. I'm not saying that they weren't in love with each other; I'm just saying that their handlers (particularly Britney's) were trying to push this image of them being such an all-American wholesome young couple in love. It came off as bizarre, since Britney was being so heavily sexualized in her videos yet was supposed to be a virgin in real life? Please.

scriptgirl said:

I don't like Punk Ass Bitch, aka Justin Timberlake one bit, but I do like his music. That said, I will never forget how when Justin was with Britney, everyone thought it was true love and that they would marry and have kids. Um, no. Punk ass is right-they were awfully young and when you are that young, famous and rich to boot, you have a lot of, shall we say options and I am sure that BOTH sides exercised those options. No, they were not meant to be, but who is, really?

tell use how you really feel script.

Well, you know me, Ms Trina!

Yeah, he puts out some good songs, but he does come across as a smug ass punk. He's particularly left a sour taste in my mouth ever since the whole Janet SuperBowl thing. And who could forget this episode of Punk'd where he broke down and cried, but not before getting on the phone to call his mother...

I think both Justin and Britney got some demons and Justin's mind set still hasn't left the N Sync stage IMHO.

Both are stupid immature brats who hates the idea of growing up.

Does he still make music?

ViintageJunkiie said:

babybugz said:

Britney cheated on Justin (well that was the story) you expect him to be nice about it ? Give me a break. She was the only girl I liked Justin with oh well that’s life.

I think Brit admitted that she cheated on him with Wade... In Brits song "Everytime" she says "I may have made it rain. Please forgive me. My weakness caused you pain and this song is my sorry" in response to JT's "Cry Me a River" with his line "You don't have to say what you did, I already know. I found out from HIM"

I’m a big Justin and Britney fan I know this but yeah people always getting on him about the Britney nonsense somebody cheated on me I wouldn’t exactly be mother Theresa either. I love his punk ass who cares But he’s not at all an angel he’s done his dirt.

[Edited 6/4/11 13:05pm]