Earlier this week, Justin Timberlake got pretty real with his followers on Instagram. He made the announcement right after revealing that he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Looking back on the end of his two-year Forget Tomorrow World Tour. The tour was capped off with a hair-raising performance in Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday. The singer expressed his desire to be more transparent with his audience about the challenges he faced during the tour.
Timberlake’s symptoms developed just three days after he felt a tick bite, which is uncommon. Reported symptoms He felt feverish, fatigued, and had headaches—all classic symptoms of Lyme disease. The disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It most commonly spreads through tick bites, and if you don’t treat it as soon as possible, it can cause debilitating health issues.
The 44-year-old singer even revealed that he was surprised by his diagnosis at first. He canceled his last U.S. show in February just hours before he was scheduled to perform in Columbus, Ohio. He recently cited a personal battle with the flu as the reason behind the decision. Reflecting on what he went through, Timberlake said, “When I initially received the diagnosis I was just floored. For the first time I was able to understand the purpose of my being on that stage. At the time I was fighting debilitating nerve pain, crushing fatigue, and malaise.
Timberlake was put in an uncomfortable position having to choose between taking care of his health and being able to still perform for his fans. And so in the end, he made the decision to continue touring, that on-stage happiness was worth all the physical challenges he was going through. I realized that performing makes me so happy that it absolutely eclipses the temporary stress my body had been experiencing. I’m really happy that I persevered,’ he said.
Timberlake shared that he was reluctant to speak about his health challenges publicly. He did this to further understanding and awareness about Lyme disease. In addition, he shared that he hoped to be more of an open book about his journey to avoid the confusion that often comes with the illness. I was really hesitant to speak on this because you’re sort of taught your whole life to not say something like this. I guess I’m just making a clumsy attempt to be more open about my difficulties so that they’re not misunderstood,” he added.
While Lyme disease is associated with the Northeast and upper Midwest states, the disease is spreading. Individuals are at greater risk of being infected in late spring, summer and fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all of us do “tick checks” after spending time outside. In addition, the CDC recommends using insect repellent with Deet to kill or repel ticks before they bite you.
Timberlake’s condition serves as a reminder of the importance of awareness regarding Lyme disease and its potential effects on individuals’ lives. As he continues his journey toward recovery, he hopes that sharing his experience will resonate with others who may be facing similar health challenges.
“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,” – Justin Timberlake
Timberlake has two sons with his wife, actress Jessica Biel. As he navigates this new chapter, fans have rallied around him, expressing their support for the artist during his health struggles. Despite all the challenges thrown his way, Timberlake remains unapologetically committed to his art, centered on his love of music. He values the intense bond he makes with his fans.
