Britney Spears Reveals Shocking Encounter With Justin Timberlake at the 2007 VMAs: Exclusive Book Excerpt

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake at the 2007 VMAs. Getty Images (2)

Britney Spears recounted her much-anticipated "comeback" show at the 2007 MTV Music Video Awards in her memoir, titled The Woman in Me. The pop star divulged an interesting encounter she had with Justin Timberlake just before her performance. According to a trusted source, Spears, now aged 41, unexpectedly bumped into Timberlake, aged 42, backstage at The Palms in Las Vegas. The meeting held significance as it had been quite some time since the former couple had crossed paths, having dated from 1999 to 2002.

During a time of personal struggles that gained significant media attention, Spears was making efforts to revive her career. In contrast, Timberlake was experiencing immense success and recognition. He had recently released the hit album FutureSex/LoveSounds, which featured the chart-topping track "SexyBack." Additionally, Timberlake graced the stage at the VMAs, concluding the event with a medley that included his collaborations with Nelly Furtado and Timbaland on "Give It to Me."

According to a source, Spears remembers Timberlake exuding confidence and charisma during their encounter at the VMAs. In contrast, she felt anxious about her own performance. Timberlake appeared carefree and playful during his performance, even engaging with girls in the audience while singing.

Kicking off the ceremony, Spears took the stage to perform her hit song, "Gimme More," which served as the debut single from her highly acclaimed fifth album, Blackout. In her memoir, Spears acknowledged that it was not her finest moment, but she was taken aback by the intense criticism she faced both that evening and in the aftermath of the awards show.

Justin Timberlake attended the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 9, 2007. Following Spears' performance, Sarah Silverman took the stage and humorously made fun of the pop star. Silverman, who was 52 at the time, famously referred to Spears' children, Preston and Jayden, who were 18 and 17 respectively, as "the most adorable mistakes you will ever see." Silverman also commented that Spears had reached her peak at the age of 25 and had accomplished everything she could in her life.

Silverman responded to the criticism she faced after the documentary Framing Britney Spears was released over a decade later.

"Back then, I was recognized for my roast performances. MTV approached me to do a mini-roast of Britney following her major performance," Silverman tweeted in February 2021. She also mentioned that she was unaware of Spears' actual singing performance since she was backstage at the time. "I was unaware that she didn't do well. It's unfortunate. As time goes on, art evolves as we gain more knowledge and the world changes."

Silverman did not offer an apology, but she did express remorse for the jokes by stating, "I wish I could delete it but I am unable to."

In contrast, Timberlake has yet to publicly address the allegations made in Spears' book. According to a source earlier this week, he is seeking to leave the controversy behind and move forward.

Britney Spears performs during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards at The Palms Hotel and Casino on September 9, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. John Shearer/WireImage

"Justin will always offer his support to Britney and her future endeavors, but he is making an effort to create some distance between himself and her upcoming book," the source revealed. "He is not placing significant importance on whatever she may disclose regarding their past relationship."

The release of The Woman in Me is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, when it will be available for purchase.