Spears and Timberlake Split
It's official -- Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake (of the pop group 'N Sync) have parted ways. In a statement received from Spears' camp this morning, she cites the timeless "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split.
A source close to Spears was able to elaborate. "Britney and Justin had been having their problems, sure, but the last straw was when she found him in bed with another guy," said our source, who requested anonymity. "There were a lot of things she was willing to forgive, but that wasn't one of them."
When contacted, Spears declined to comment on the allegations, but our source had a few more things to add. "Justin begged her to take him back, but Britney held firm. Either give up the guys, or they were through. Obviously he couldn't do that because they haven't spoken since."
The reasons for the break-up seem to stem from both sides of the relationship, however. At last month's TVMAs, Spears was accompanied by an unidentified man, not Timberlake, and witnesses claim their behavior was publicly affectionate.
'N Sync, who still hold the record for most albums sold in a single week, have always maintained a squeaky clean image, but over the past year that facade has started to crumble. In addition to Timberlake, last spring member Joey Fatone fathered a child out of wedlock. Between N Sync and the Backstreet Boys, whose member AJ McLean entered rehab in July for alcohol abuse problems, it's increasingly obvious that these teen icons are growing older faster than their fan base.
Timberlake's people had yet to return our calls at press time.
Putting the Dirty into Pop
By Tom Wilcox, entertainment editor
It's what every teenage girl in American (and every man with a pulse) has been waiting for -- official word has come down that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake are both single once again. We all knew it was just a matter of time, didn't we? Ken and Barbie never work out in real life.
So what now? Once the dust clears in what looks to become a nasty public break-up, what will remain of the careers of these two bubblegum pop stars? Already accusations are being hurled from both sides of the fence. Claims that Justin has been having secret gay affairs, that Britney was caught snorting coke in her dressing room, even that Britney stole songs that Justin wrote for her to record on her album.
I don't think it comes as a surprise to anyone that these two crazy kids aren't as innocent as they're made out to be. No doubt they drink, they smoke, they do all sorts of other things that good little boys and girls ought not be out doing. Few of the current crop of teen icons really seem the milk and cookies sort. But the nature of these break-up rumours is pretty adult, yet more proof that these kids just aren't kids anymore.
It certainly hasn't been a stellar year for teen pop, but even I have to admit the top acts have really hung in there, showing legs no one would have expected of them a couple years ago. A Backstreet Boy had a stint in rehab, another was arrested outside a club, now Timberlake has gay rumours swirling around him and individual projects outside both bands have fallen flat. Yet they carry on, their millions of fans remaining fiercely loyal.
Color this jaded 40-year-old impressed. Fearing for the future, but impressed.
But really, all this blather is pretty inconsequential when you get down to it. Let's just forget about it and get to the real question that's on everyone's mind …
Is Britney Spears still a virgin?
MEDIA RELEASE
Wright Entertainment Group and Jive Records
January 16, 2002
In response to allegations made regarding the dissolution of the relationship between Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, Mr. Timberlake would like to make the following known.
Justin and Britney have made a mutual decision to end their three-year relationship. The split is amicable and the two remain good friends, but have chosen to pursue other avenues in their lives at this time. Neither infidelity of any sort nor substance abuse was a factor in the break-up.
"I still think very highly of Britney," says Justin. "We were very happy together, but it's difficult to sustain a relationship in the type of high pressure career that we both have. I wish her the best and look forward to continuing our longstanding friendship and working with her in the future."
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