LOS ANGELES (LOOTPRESS) — Pop superstar Justin Timberlake has revealed he’s been battling Lyme disease, a diagnosis he says explains months of physical struggles during his just-completed world tour.
The singer made the announcement Thursday in a candid Instagram post, just one day after wrapping his “Forget Tomorrow World Tour” in Turkey. Timberlake said he chose to speak out about his condition to give fans insight into the challenges he’s faced behind the scenes.
“If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” Timberlake wrote.
The revelation follows criticism over his recent performance at Electric Castle Festival in Romania, where some fans shared TikTok videos claiming the Grammy winner “barely sang” and appeared to struggle vocally. Timberlake was seen encouraging the crowd to sing along during his hit “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” which led to speculation online about his energy level during the set.
Timberlake said he had been quietly dealing with nerve pain, extreme fatigue, and other symptoms, and initially considered ending the tour early. “I weighed the decision to stop the tour,” he wrote, “but ultimately decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling.”
The global tour began in Vancouver in April 2024 and spanned dozens of cities before concluding this week. Timberlake described the experience as “the most fun, emotional, gratifying, physically demanding, and, at times, grueling” journey of his career.
“I was reluctant to talk about this because I was always raised to keep something like this to yourself,” he said. “But I’m trying to be more transparent about my struggles so they aren’t misinterpreted.”
Fans and fellow artists were quick to show support. Musician Miguel commented, “Rooting for your healing familia, massive of you to forge ahead in the midst of it all for the love of the music and your audience.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that can cause fever, fatigue, headaches, and joint pain. If untreated, it may lead to more serious complications affecting the nervous system and heart.
Timberlake did not say when he was diagnosed, but thanked his fans for standing by him and promised to share more when ready.
