Justin Timberlake recently made a much-anticipated comeback with a performance of his new single, “Selfish,” on the iconic show, “Saturday Night Live.” While the performance garnered mostly positive reviews, it seems that his ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears, still reigns supreme on the charts. Despite Timberlake’s decade-long hiatus from the show, his efforts to reclaim the spotlight fell short in comparison to Spears’ continued success.
Timberlake’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live” included not only “Selfish” but also another track from his forthcoming LP, “Everything I Thought It Was,” titled “Sanctified.” Longtime friend and “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon introduced Timberlake on stage, adding to the anticipation surrounding his return. However, despite the hype, it was Spears’ little-known track, buried in the deluxe edition of her “Femme Fatale” album, that surprised everyone by claiming the number one spot on the charts following Timberlake’s release.
The ongoing rivalry between Timberlake and Spears adds an extra layer of intrigue to their chart battle. Fans of Spears have harbored resentment towards Timberlake ever since he accused her of infidelity in his 2002 single, “Cry Me a River.” The music video even featured a Spears look-alike, further intensifying the ill feelings. Last year, Spears’ memoir, “The Woman in Me,” shed light on their tumultuous three-year relationship, revealing deeply personal details such as undergoing an abortion due to Timberlake’s unwillingness to become a father at the time. To add fuel to the fire, she accused Timberlake of adopting a “blaccent” upon meeting the R&B singer Ginuwine.
Spears’ allegations against Timberlake sparked a flurry of comments on social media when he performed “Sanctified” on “SNL” alongside rapper and singer Tobe Nwigwe and a black church congregation. Many users couldn’t resist drawing connections to Timberlake’s past controversies, with one Twitter user writing, “#JustinTimberlake showing up on #SNL with a whole Black Church congregation… the only thing missing was his cornrows and Ginuwine.” Another critic expressed frustration, stating, “So this has-been thinks he’s going to put out a song called ‘sanctified’ using mostly Black people in the band/background singers and rapper, create the setting as a small town Black church to prop his no-singing azz up. Go back into retirement.”
Timberlake’s latest album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” marks his first release since 2018’s “Man of the Woods.” There are rumors of an ambitious era in the works for the Grammy winner, including the possibility of a concert tour. In his personal life, Timberlake moved on from his relationship with Spears in 2001 and eventually married actress Jessica Biel in 2012. They share two sons together. On the other hand, Spears has two sons, born during her marriage to Kevin Federline. Unfortunately, her third marriage to Sam Asghari ended in divorce after just over a year.
While Justin Timberlake’s return to the spotlight was met with excitement, the success of his new single “Selfish” pales in comparison to Britney Spears’ chart-topping surprise. The lingering animosity from their past relationship, as well as Timberlake’s controversial past actions, continue to overshadow his attempts at a comeback. As both artists navigate their personal and professional lives, only time will tell if Timberlake can reclaim his former glory or if Spears will continue to outshine him on the charts.