Justin Timberlake won mostly raves for his performance of his new single, “Selfish” on “Saturday Night Live,” but his ex Britney Spears’ 2011 song of the same name is still doing better on the charts.
Timberlake made his first appearance in a decade at Studio 8H to perform “Selfish” and “Sanctified” from his forthcoming LP, “Everything I Thought It Was.”
He was introduced to the stage by longtime pal and “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon.
The *NSYNC alum’s “SNL” comeback comes shortly after Spears’ fans pushed her little-known track — from the deluxe edition of her “Femme Fatale” album — into the number one position Thursday after Timberlake’s release.
Although they have both since tumbled a couple of spots, Spears, 42, is still besting her former beau on iTunes.
Her fans have long held a grudge against Timberlake, also 42, after he accused her of cheating in his 2002 single “Cry Me a River.” The music video even featured a Spears look-alike.
Justin Timberlake returned to the “Saturday Night Live” stage to perform his new single, “Selfish.”Saturday Night Live/NBC
Meanwhile, Britney Spears’ fans continued to stream her 2011 song of the same name.REUTERS
The ill feelings intensified last year following the release of Spears’ memoir, “The Woman in Me.”
In the book, she chronicled the couple’s 3-year relationship and claimed to have undergone an abortion because Timberlake did not want to be a father at the time.
She accused the “SexyBack” singer of adopting a “blaccent” when he first met Ginuwine.
The track is featured on the deluxe edition of her “Femme Fatale” album.Jive Records
Her song has bested Timberlake’s on the music charts in recent days.
“‘Oh, yeah! Fo shiz, fo shiz, Ginuwine! What’s up, homie?’” Spears claimed her then-boyfriend said to the R&B singer.
Following Spears’ allegation, social media users were quick to comment when Timberlake performed “Sanctified” on “SNL” with rapper and singer Tobe Nwigwe and a black church congregation.
“#JustinTimberlake showing up on #SNL with a whole Black Church congregation…the only thing missing was his cornrows and Ginuwine,” one person tweeted.
The couple dated for three years before breaking up in 2001.Corbis via Getty Images
Another griped, “So this has-been thinks he gonna 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 new album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” is his first since 2018’s “Man of the Woods.”
Page Six exclusively reported that the Grammy winner has “an ambitious era” in the works, including a concert tour.
Timberlake faced backlash after the release of Spears’ 2023 memoir, “The Woman in Me.”Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesWhat do you think? Post a comment.
After his 2001 breakup from Spears, he went on to marry Jessica Biel in 2012. They share two sons: Silas, 8, and Phineas, 3.
Spears shares two sons, Sean Preston, 18, and Jayden James, 17, with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
Last year her third husband, Sam Asghari filed for divorce after just over a year of marriage.
