CNN –
In the music world, you can't live out old grudges, especially when it comes to loyal fans of a particular artist.
On Friday, Britney Spears' 2011 song “Selfish” – from her seventh album this year, “Femme Fatale” – reached No. 1 on the US iTunes Chartscapping off a new song of the same name by her former boyfriend Justin Timberlake, who had released his track “Selfish” just the day before.
As of Saturday, Spears' song was still holding at No. 1. No. 2 on the chart, two spots ahead of Timberlake at No. 1. 4.
Why is that important? Both a 2021 documentary titled “Framing Britney Spears” and a memoir by the singer released last year titled “The Woman In Me” have reframed and retracted Spears' very high-profile, decades-old romance with Timberlake starred in The Mickey Mouse Club as a child and dated her from 1999 to 2002.
In the memoir, Spears talked about how the breakup of her relationship with Timberlake became very public due to her infidelity, but what the public didn't know was that Timberlake hadn't been faithful either, Spears wrote in the memoir, and that she was aware of him Aware of indiscretions.
She also spoke about how she had an abortion during her relationship with Timberlake, something she wrote she “would never have done” if it was just about her. “To this day it is one of the most excruciating things I have ever experienced in my life,” she added in her book.
These revelations came two years after the New York Times Presents' Hulu documentary Framing Britney Spears, which also again focused on her split from Timberlake and how the former *NSYNC member was more positive in the media narrative at the time was portrayed about their breakup, while Spears was summarily vilified.
The documentary prompted Spears' loyal fan base – which was in uproar during the #FreeBritney movement near the end of her 13-year conservatorship – to demand an apology from Timberlake, which he did and wrote on social media days after the documentary's premiere Die Zeit: “I have seen the messages, tags, comments and concerns and would like to respond.”
“I am deeply sorry for the times in my life when my actions contributed to the problem, when I stepped out of line or did not stand up for what was right,” he continued, later adding added: “I would like to expressly apologize for this.” Britney Spears.”
Apparently, Spears supporters are still gathering to show their support for the “Piece of Me” singer.