Justin Timberlake Says He Means “No Disrespect” Singing “Cry Me a River”

Justin Timberlake gave a disclaimer before singing his 2002 song “Cry Me a River,” which he released eight months after his breakup with Britney Spears.

Justin Timberlake is saying bye bye bye to any hard feelings.

The *NSYNC alum had a disclaimer for before launching into a performance of his 2002 breakup song “Cry Me a River” at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas on Dec. 13. Justin told the crowd, “No disrespect,” according to multiple outlets, seemingly alluding to his breakup with Britney Spears.

The 42-year-old originally released the track eight months after splitting with the pop star, and further fueled speculation about its inspiration when he cast her look-alike in the music video.

“You don’t have to say, what you did / I already know, I found out from him,” Justin sings. “Now there’s just no chance / For you and me / There’ll never be / And don’t it make you sad about it?”

Britney, now 42, has since admitted to cheating on the former boy bander with choreographer Wade Robson during their relationship, which began in 1999.

“We were out one night and we went to a Spanish bar,” she wrote in her 2023 memoir The Woman in Me. “We danced and danced. I made out with him that night.”

The “Toxic” singer said she was otherwise faithful to Justin, “with that one exception.”

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Britney’s memoir also gave more insight into their relationship, including allegations that she became pregnant with their child but decided to end the pregnancy.

“Justin definitely wasn’t happy about the pregnancy,” she alleged in the book. “He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young.”

Justin hasn’t publicly commented on the book, but he issued a public apology to both Britney and his fellow Super Bowl halftime performer Janet Jackson in 2021.

“I am deeply sorry for the time in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right,” he wrote in part on Instagram at the time. “I care for and respect these women and I know I failed. I also feel compelled to respond, in part, because everyone involved deserves better and most importantly, because this is a larger conversation that I whole heartedly want to be part of and grow from.”

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Amid the release of his ex’s memoir this year, the “Mirrors” artist was choosing to focus on his life with wife Jessica Biel.

In fact, a source told E! News in October that the couple was “so busy” raising their sons Silas, 8, and Phineas, 3, and balancing their careers to pay any mind to the buzz surrounding Britney’s book. “Justin has been working on music,” the insider noted, “and loving what he’s been making.”

Keep reading if U seek more details on Britney and Justin’s early aughts romance.

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Good Jeans

Spears and Timberlake dated between 1999 and 2002.

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Pre-Grammys Party

The two attended Clive Davis‘ annual pre-Grammy Awards party at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2002.

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Planet Hollywood Date

They hosted a Super Bowl fundraiser at the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Times Square in NYC in 2002.

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Album Release Party

Timberlake joined Spears at the release party for her album Britney in 2001.

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Crossroads Premiere

The following year, he was her plus one at the premiere of her movie.

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Shootin’ Hoops

Spears was along for the ride when N*SYNC participated at a celebrity basketball game.

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2000 MTV VMAs

All eyes were on them at music’s biggest night.

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