Justin Timberlake announces Lyme disease diagnosis
In an Instagram post Thursday, singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake revealed his diagnosis of Lyme disease — shedding light on what he’s been going through the last two years.
“I wanted to write something from the heart,” Timberlake, 44, wrote. “This has been the most fun, emotional, gratifying, physically demanding and, at times, grueling experience.”
The post was made to reflect the conclusion of his two-year Forget Tomorrow World Tour, Good Morning America reported.
“As many of you know, I’m a pretty private person. But as I’m reflecting on the tour and festival tour — I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me,” Timberlake said.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infectious disease that, if left untreated, can affect the joints, heart and nervous system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics over the course of 10 to 14 days, but in some cases, symptoms of Lyme disease may linger, including fatigue, body aches and difficulty, the news outlet reported.
Timberlake said he decided to share about his experience with Lyme disease to shed light on what he’s “been up against behind the scenes,” not for fans to feel bad for him.
“If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” Timberlake wrote. “I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going.”
Though the singer was “shocked” by his diagnosis, he said he was able to understand why he was experiencing nerve pain, “crazy fatigue” or sickness.
“Not only did I prove my mental tenacity to myself, but I now have so many special moments with all of you that I will never forget,” Timberlake told his fans.
He was reluctant at first to talk about Lyme disease because he was raised to keep similar matters personal and hidden, he said in the post.
“But I am trying to be more transparent about my struggles so that they aren’t misinterpreted,” Timberlake said. “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.”
Timberlake’s Instagram post followed amid some online scrutiny he has received with concertgoers calling out the singer for what they considered a lackluster performance, The Hollywood Reporter said.
His tour began in April 2024, about one month after he released the “Everything I Thought It Was” album. According to Billboard, the tour made Timberlake the 10th top touring artist of Billboard‘s midyear Boxscore report, grossing $73.2 million across 41 shows as of late May.
Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania. A Murrysville native, she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State. She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers. She can be reached at mswift@triblive.com.
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