Justin Timberlake has been diagnosed with “debilitating” Lyme disease.
The singer made the health admission in a lengthy Instagram statement Thursday reflecting on his Forget Tomorrow tour, which wrapped in Turkey on Wednesday.
“I’ve been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease -— which I don’t say so you feel bad for me –– but to shed some light on what I’ve been up against behind the scenes,” the 44-year-old told his followers.
The “shocked” Grammy winner noted that Lyme disease, which is a bacterial infection spread by tics, “can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.”
Being diagnosed helped Timberlake understand “why [he] would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”
He continued, “I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out.”
The former *NSYNC member ultimately decided, “The joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling.”
He is “so glad [he] kept going” to prove his “mental tenacity” and share “special moments” with fans.
Timberlake acknowledged elsewhere in his caption that he chose to be “transparent about [his] struggles” so they would not be “misinterpreted.”
The “Cry Me a River” singer, notably, has been blasted for lackluster performances since kicking off his tour in April 2024.
This is a developing story…
