Justin Timberlake has finally set the record straight about a long-running rumor involving his former girlfriend Britney Spears, revealing the truth behind one of his biggest hits.
The 45-year-old singer, who dated Britney from 1999 to 2002, has addressed speculation that his 2006 breakup anthem "What Goes Around... Comes Around" was written about their highly publicized relationship.
For two decades, fans have believed the chart-topping track was inspired by Britney, 44, and served as a follow-up to Justin's 2002 hit "Cry Me a River," which was also widely believed to reference their split.
However, the former NSYNC star has now revealed that the song was inspired by someone else's romantic troubles entirely.
Justin reveals the truth
Speaking on Complex's Re-Rank series on November 5, Justin explained that the inspiration for the song actually came from a close friend's painful breakup.
"Maybe I should dispel a rumor at this point," he began, explaining that the song was not based on his own personal experiences.
Instead, the singer revealed that a friend had confided in him about a difficult relationship, prompting Justin to ask permission to turn the story into a song.
His frien...