Britney Spears. John Sciulli/Getty Images for Ketel One Family-Made Vodka
Britney Spears disclosed in her memoir, The Woman in Me, that she had a brief fling with choreographer Wade Robson while she was dating Justin Timberlake. However, songwriter Annet Artani recalls the affair lasting much longer. According to Artani, during an interview with TMZ on Friday, October 20, Spears wrote a lengthy 14-page letter to Robson, which was found in her makeup bag, attempting to bring an end to their relationship.
She continued, "I don't believe it was just an instance of making out at a bar one night. I distinctively remember her mentioning that it happened with Wade and that it lasted for a considerable amount of time. ... In my understanding, if you're writing a 14-page letter to someone, it's more than just a simple kiss."
Artani, who co-wrote "Everytime," a song inspired by the breakup between Spears and Timberlake, also stated that Timberlake, who is now 42, discovered the lengthy breakup letter in a cosmetics case and confronted Spears about her faithfulness. "Perhaps he wanted to end it because he's a young and attractive pop star who didn't want to be tied down," Artani speculated. "This presented an opportunity for him."
Earlier this month, we received confirmation that Spears has openly acknowledged her indiscretion in her memoir. She disclosed that she engaged in dancing and making out with Robson, who is now 41 years old, at a bar in Spain while she was still dating Timberlake. (Artani, according to her, states that Robson danced along with Spears on tour and collaborated with Timberlake on songwriting projects.)
In her book, Spears mentioned that she and Timberlake both agreed to put the incident behind them, considering her unwavering loyalty to the 'NSync singer throughout the years and her sole focus on him.
Robson has not publicly addressed any of the affair claims.
Courtesy of Wade Robson/Instagram
Spears and Timberlake, who initially crossed paths on the set of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club during the early ‘90s, publicly unveiled their romantic involvement in 1999. Their relationship concluded in 2002, three years later, amidst allegations of infidelity.
Following this, Timberlake released his heartrending ballad "Cry Me a River" and enlisted a lookalike of Spears for the accompanying music video. Within the visuals, Timberlake portrayed a scenario wherein the model had been unfaithful to him. Fans swiftly began speculating that the song was inspired by his past relationship with Spears.
"I have experienced betrayal. I have felt anger. In my 2018 memoir, Hindsight & All the Things I Can't See in Front of Me, I revealed that I spontaneously wrote 'Cry Me a River' within a span of two hours. It was not something I had planned beforehand," Timberlake shared, reflecting on the song. "The emotions I was experiencing were so intense that I felt compelled to translate them into a form that others could hear and hopefully relate to. When people listened to it, they connected with it because we have all been in similar situations."
Spears, who was visibly upset when she first watched the music video, also disclosed in The Woman in Me that Timberlake had been unfaithful to her "a couple of times" during their relationship.
Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears at the 2000 MTV Music Video Awards. Dave Hogan/Getty Images
Timberlake, on his end, has refrained from addressing any of the allegations related to Spears' book. A source reveals that he is actively attempting to separate himself from the tell-all.
The insider explained that Timberlake is not placing significant emphasis on whatever she may reveal about their previous relationship. They dated many years ago, and Timberlake has since moved on to a completely different life. Presently, he is focused on his family, career, and personal growth. He wishes to distance himself from any past events and leave them behind.
In 2012, Timberlake tied the knot with Jessica Biel and together they have two sons, Silas aged 8 and Phineas aged 3. On the other hand, Spears shares custody of her two sons, Sean Preston aged 18 and Jayden James aged 17, with her ex-husband Kevin Federline. Currently, she is separated from Sam Asghari, who filed for divorce in August after being married for 14 months. In a recent Instagram note, Spears clarified that her book was never intended to cause offense to anyone.
"That was who I used to be... it's all in the past now!" she expressed, sharing that she has moved forward with her life. "From now on, I have a fresh start, like a beautiful blank canvas! I'm determined to keep it that way for the rest of my life! Whatever happened in the past, it's over. This book is something I never realized I needed to write. And while it might upset some people, it has given me the closure I needed for a brighter future."
Following that, Spears has deactivated her Instagram account.