Entertainment · Music · 1 hr ago
Timberlake says ‘What Goes Around… Comes Around’ was inspired by a friend
Justin Timberlake says the song was not about Britney Spears during an appearance on Complex’s “Re-Rank” YouTube series.
Many people had linked the 2006 song “What Goes Around… Comes Around” to Spears, his former girlfriend.
Timberlake says it came from a friend’s breakup, whose story he asked permission to use.
He recalled that his friend’s words gave him the song’s central idea.
Timberlake says he wrote it in about 20 minutes and that the song and its 10-minute video came together especially well.
The pair dated for three years and broke up in 2002, four years before the song was released.
The clarification separates this song from the breakup rumors, though “Cry Me a River” remains widely speculated to be about Spears because its video featured a look-alike of her.
Timberlake has now publicly explained the song’s inspiration; no further action was announced.
Justin Timberlake says his 2006 song “What Goes Around… Comes Around” was based on a friend’s breakup, not his relationship with Britney Spears.
He said he asked his friend for permission to write about the experience.
Timberlake said the song was written in “damn near 20 minutes.”
The song appeared on his second solo album, “FutureSex/LoveSounds.”
The song has long been rumored to be about Spears, whom Timberlake dated from 1999 to 2002, according to Page Six.
- Who
- Justin Timberlake. He said the song drew on a friend’s breakup.
- What
- Timberlake clarified that “What Goes Around… Comes Around” was not about Britney Spears.
- When
- He made the comments during a recent appearance on Complex’s “Re-Rank” YouTube series. The song was released in 2006.
- Where
- The comments were made on Complex’s “Re-Rank” YouTube series.
- Why
- Timberlake said the song was based on a friend’s breakup, not his own experience.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Timberlake and Spears began dating, according to Page Six.
Timberlake and Spears broke up, according to Page Six.
Timberlake released “What Goes Around… Comes Around” on his album “FutureSex/LoveSounds.
Just Jared and Page Six published reports on Timberlake’s comments about the song.
- Song release
- 2006
- Album
- FutureSex/LoveSounds
- Song’s subject, according to Timberlake
- A friend’s breakup
- Writing time
- Damn near 20 minutes
- Interview series
- Complex’s “Re-Rank” YouTube series
3 sources
Justin Timberlake Reveals ‘What Goes Around… Comes Around’ Is Not About Britney Spears
Justin Timberlake Reveals If ‘What Goes Around… Comes Around’ Is Really About Ex Britney Spears
Justin Timberlake finally reveals if ‘What Goes Around… Comes Around’ is about ex Britney Spears — a full 20 years later
What people are saying
Maybe I should dispel a rumor at this point, which has gone around forever, which is like, it’s not a personal story from mine
It’s actually a personal story from a friend’s. I asked permission.
He was just going through it and he was telling me what had happened, and I said, ‘Do you mind if I write about this?’