'No one should EVER be held against their will': Justin Timberlake pledges his 'absolute support' for ex Britney Spears in conservatorship battle amid criticism over his treatment of the star
Justin Timberlake has urged a judge to free ex Britney Spears following her earth-shattering testimony about her life under her father Jamie's conservatorship.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Justin, 40, - who famously dated Spears from 1998 to 2002 - said: 'After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time. Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was.'
This comes just months after he publicly apologized for his actions during and after their relationship amid the release of the documentary Framing Britney Spears.
Justin Timberlake has sided with his former girlfriend Britney Spears in her battle to free herself from her father's 13-year long conservatorship, saying what's happening to her 'is just not right' (pictured together in January 2002)
The singer and actor went on: 'What’s happening to her is just not right. No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body.'
He added: 'No one should EVER be held against their will… or ever have to ask permission to access everything they’ve worked so hard for.'
The former N*SYNC boybander, who used his break up with Britney as inspiration for his single Cry Me A River, married actress Jessica Biel in 2012 and they have two sons together.
Justin tweeted: 'Jess and I send our love, and our absolute support to Britney during this time. We hope the courts, and her family make this right and let her live however she wants to live.'
Justin, 40, posted a lengthy statement on Twitter after the pop star's bombshell testimony in a court hearing Wednesday about her life under dad Jamie's control. He declared Britney should be able to live 'however she wants to live'
Britney, 39, testified via audio link on Wednesday in her ongoing legal battle to free herself from her father's conservatorship.
Since 2008, following a highly-publicized mental breakdown, Jamie Spears has controlled her finances and her personal life.
In her statement, the pop star described how she feels 'ganged up on, bullied and alone' and has no say about what she does, where she goes and who she spends time with.
She also does not have direct access to her estate which is valued at $60 million while paying her father $16,000 a month to be her conservator.
In her statement, Britney, 39, said she feels 'ganged up on, bullied and alone' and has no say about what she does, where she goes and who she spends time with, and no access to her money
In a bombshell revelation, she said she has been fitted with an IUD contraceptive device and her request to have it removed so she can have another baby has been denied
After the court hearing, Britney was seen behind the wheel of s luxury sedan taking a drive near her home with boyfriend Sam Asghari in the front passenger seat and a bodyguard
In a bombshell revelation, she said she has been fitted with an IUD contraceptive device and her request to have it removed so she can have another baby has been denied.
Britney has two sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline whom she married in 2004 and divorced in 2007.
The boys - Sean Preston, 15, and Jayden James, 14 - live with Federline and have only limited contact with their mother.
Britney catapulted to fame at 17 with the 1999 hit single Baby One More Time and cemented it with 2000's Oops!... I Did It Again.
In 1992, she had been cast in The Mickey Mouse Club which at the time also included Justin as well as Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell.
Years later, when both she and Justin had launched their hugely successful recording careers, they started dating and confirmed their relationship in 2000.
Justin and Britney first met in the early 90s when they worked together on The Mickey Mouse Club, They started dating in 1999 and confirmed their romance in 2000
As a couple they were constantly in the spotlight. However, the romance didn't end well with their split in 2002 blamed on rumors Britney was cheating on Justin (pictured in April 2001)
As a couple they were constantly in the spotlight.
However, the romance didn't end well, with their split in 2002 blamed on rumors Britney was cheating on Justin.
He then used the relationship to promote his own solo career even using a Britney lookalike in the music video for his 2002 hit Cry Me A River.
In a 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer, Sawyer asked Britney: 'He's gone on television and pretty much said you broke his heart, you did something that caused him so much pain. What did you do?'
Britney, then 21, replied: 'We're both really young. It was kind of waiting to happen. I will always love him.
'Everyone has a side of their story and to make them feel a certain way, make them feel, you know... I'm not saying he's wrong and I'm not saying he's right either.'
In February of this year, Justin publicly apologized to his ex-girlfriend for capitalizing off their breakup to advance his solo career. It followed the release of documentary Framing Britney Spears which laid bare how she has, according to fans, been exploited by the men in her life
In February of this year, Justin publicly apologized to his ex-girlfriend following the release of the documentary, Framing Britney Spears, which laid bare how she has, according to her fans, been exploited by the men in her life.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Justin wrote that he was 'deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn or did not speak up for what was right.
'I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited a system that condones misogyny and racism,' he said.
He went on: 'I also feel compelled to respond, in part, because everyone involved deserves better and most importantly, because this is a larger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be a part of and grow from...'
Justin married actress Jessica Biel in 2012 and they have two sons together. He said Jess joins him in sending love and support to Britney (pictured in September 2018)
Justin's statement continued: 'The industry is flawed. It sets men, especially white men, up for success. It's designed this way. As a man in a privileged position I have to be vocal about this.
'Because of my ignorance, I didn't recognize it for all that it was while it was happening in my own life but I do not want to ever benefit from others being pulled down again. I have not been perfect in navigating all of this throughout my career.'
Justin added: 'I know this apology is a first step and doesn't absolve the past. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports.
'I care deeply about the well-being of the people I love and have loved. I can do better and I will do better,' he said.
Meanwhile, a host of famous names are chiming in on social media, expressing support for Britney and decrying her treatment under the conservatorship.
Britney Spears delivered jaw-dropping testimony Wednesday in her legal battle to free herself from her father Jamie's control over her life and Mandy Moore was among the celebrities who posted a message of support for the pop star on social media
'The abuse she has suffered at the hands of an institution meant to protect her is staggering, heartbreaking and shameful,' the This Is Us star said. 'I applaud her bravery and transparency'
Mariah Carey, who dominated the charts with Britney in the nineties and early noughties, Tweeted: 'We love you Britney!!! Stay strong'.
'The abuse she has suffered at the hands of an institution meant to protect her is staggering, heartbreaking and shameful,' Mandy Moore posted to Instagram.
'I applaud her bravery and transparency,' the This Is Us star wrote, adding the hashtag #FreeBritney.
'We love you Britney!': Mariah Carey threw her support behind Britney, following the singer's bombshell testimony amid her conservatorship battle
Pop superstar Mariah Carey tweeted her love and support and urged Britney to 'stay strong'
Hitmaker Halsey, who is pregnant with her first child, echoed Moore's opinion that Britney is a victim of an abusive system.
She also expressed disgust at the pop star's revelation that she has been forced to have a IUD contraceptive device fitted even though she wants another baby.
The singer, 26, tweeted: 'Bless Britney and I hope with my whole heart she is awarded freedom from this abusive system. She deserves it more than anything.'
Halsey added: 'I admire her courage speaking up for herself today .'
'Additionally, f*** anyone who thinks they have the authority as an institution or individual to control a person's reproductive health.'
Hitmaker Halsey, who is pregnant with her first child, echoed Moore's opinion that Britney is a victim of an abusive system as she reacted to her court statement
The singer, 26, also expressed disgust at the pop star's revelation that she has been forced to have a IUD contraceptive device fitted even though she wants another baby
Harvey Weinstein accuser and former Charmed star Rose McGowan joined in the outpouring of sympathy for Britney.
Posting a video to Instagram, she described herself as 'brutally angry' about the way the Toxic hitmaker has been treated.
In a message to Britney, she said: 'We hear you, we have heard you, I know the cost of control.'
Retweeting an article from the Hollywood Reporter, McGowan, 47, added" Britney Spears has every right to be angry. How would you feel if your life had been stolen, dissected, mocked?
'I pray she gets to live life on her terms. Stop controlling women!'
Harvey Weinstein accuser and former Charmed star Rose McGowan described herself as 'brutally angry' about the way the Toxic hitmaker has been treated in an Instagram video
Retweeting an article from The Hollywood Reporter, McGowan, 47, added: 'Britney Spears has every right to be angry. How would you feel if your life had been stolen, dissected, mocked?'
The View's Meghan McCain expressed outrage at how Britney has been treated and suggested she'd been subjected to 'inhumane conditions'
Pop superstar Mariah Carey tweeted: 'We love you Britney!!! Stay Strong' followed by three red heart emojis.
The View's Meghan McCain opined: 'How is what has been done to Britney Spears not a human rights crime?'
The conservative commentator continued: 'Isolation. controlling her capacity to reproduce without her consent, forcing her to work under inhumane conditions. If she were any other person the people who did this to her would be in jail.'
Meanwhile, Courtney Stodden, who has herself been in the news lately after revealing she'd been a victim of online abuse from Chrissy Teigen, posted on Instagram: 'Damn how much pain does this QUEEN have to keep enduring?!?!'
Others chiming in on social media included The Bachelorette's Kaitlyn Bristowe, Jersey Shore star Snooki, Bravo's Andy Cohen and singers Tinashe and Brandy.
Courtney Stodden, who has herself been in the news lately after revealing she'd been a victim of online abuse from Chrissy Teigen, posted on Instagram: 'Damn how much pain does this QUEEN have to keep enduring?!?!'
Bachelorette co-host and former star Kaitlyn Bristowe shared a selfie in which she posed wearing a Britney t-shirt
Jersey Shore star Nicole Polizzi AKA Snooki had a few choice words to say about the matter on Twitter
