Pop star Britney Spears revealed a tragedy she experienced that she hid for over 20 years in her new memoir The Woman in Me.
After getting pregnant with singer Justin Timberlake’s baby, Spears says she had an abortion because Timberlake was doubtful about being a father, calling it one of the most “agonizing” experiences of her lifetime.
Spears said that while the pregnancy was a “surprise”, it wasn’t a “tragedy” either.
“I loved Justin so much. I always expected us to have a family together one day. This would just be much earlier than I’d anticipated,” Spears said in her book according to People. “But Justin definitely wasn’t happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young."
If the decision was solely up to her, she wouldn’t have gone through with the abortion, but Timberlake was “so sure that he didn’t want to be a father.”
Timberlake reportedly felt “concerned” about the release of Spears’s upcoming memoir, according to Page Six. “He’s very curious what she’ll reveal from their relationship,” a source said. “It’s eating at him.”
Timberlake has yet to comment publicly on Spears’s claims.
It’s hard to imagine the pain Spears (and Timberlake) have experienced as a result of this abortion, but it is evident that the effects are long-lasting. While many women today claim to feel “empowered” by their abortions, others are grieving the loss of their unborn children.
Presumably, Timberlake’s “concern” may stem from how the memoir could affect his reputation. However, if he recognizes what he’s done, there may be tremendous guilt he’s been carrying for the past 20 years that he might finally have to face.