Justin Timberlake cancelling gigs amid backlash from Britney Spears memoir

This illustration image taken on October 21, 2023 shows the cover of Britney Spears' book "The Woman in Me" from an online retailer in front of a picture of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake at the American Music Awards from January 9, 2002. Two years after escaping her father's guardianship, Britney Spears recounts her years as a superstar who became a victim of her success in a highly anticipated memoir being published on October 24, 2023. One revelation from "The Woman in Me" has already made headlines: with Spears saying she felt pressured into having an abortion while dating fellow popstar Justin Timberlake between 1999 and 2002. (Photo by Chris DELMAS / AFP)

Justin Timberlake is backing out of some scheduled gigs in the wake of the explosive claims made about him in ex-girlfriend Britney Spears’ memoir, which hit shelves last week.

The SexyBack singer, 42, will no longer appear at some clubs early next year, as previously scheduled, sources told TMZ.

News of those cancelled slots — which were intended to promote his upcoming new album — comes just days after the Tuesday release of The Woman In Me. The week leading up to the memoir’s debut brought a slew of bombshell revelations about Timberlake’s relationship with the Stronger singer, 41, from 1999 to 2002.

Spears in the book claims that the NSYNC breakout — with whom she appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club — impregnated her and ultimately convinced her to get an abortion, which she long regretted. She also accused him of having cheated on her. Though she admitted to once having “made out” with choreographer Wade Robson, Spears criticised Timberlake for publicly positioning her as the “harlot who’d broken the heart of America’s golden boy.”

As of Wednesday The Woman In Me had already sold over 400,000 copies.

In the days ahead of its publication, sources told Us Weekly that Timberlake was “not going to be happy” with the shout-outs he gets in the book.

While it was “not Britney’s intention to skewer anyone,” the insider said the book does “relay the facts from her perspective.”

On the bright side for Timberlake, NSYNC — who recently reunited to record the single, Better Place for his new Trolls sequel — is sticking by the Cry Me A River singer, and even hope to eventually work together again.

Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez, all of whom previously toured with Spears, are all in Timberlake’s corner amid the backlash, insiders told TMZ. - New York Daily News/Tribune News Service