Britney Spears apologized to Justin Timberlake for the backlash he received from her memoir because she ‘never intended for people to come after him’ when she decided to open up about their relationship.

The pop superstars famously dated from 1999 until 2002, and Britney made a series of explosive revelations about their tumultuous romance in her 2023 release, The Woman In Me.

The singer, 42, claimed that Justin urged her to have an abortion when she fell pregnant and accused him of making her look like a ‘harlot who’d broken the heart of America’s golden boy’ when they split. 

In the wake of the outrage, Britney’s legion of devoted fans successfully created a campaign to get her 2011 track Selfish charting above her ex-boyfriend’s comeback song of the same name. 

But, according to one Spears insider, the popstar felt extreme guilt over the fallout that her former partner faced in the wake of her book’s publication – having been unaware of what a commotion her confessions would spark.   

‘She didn’t realize how powerful her words would be,’ an insider exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com. 

Britney Spears decided to apologize to Justin Timberlake for the backlash he received after she published her memoir because she ‘never intended for people to come after him’

On Sunday saw the star extended an olive branch to her ex, taking to Instagram to apologize for ‘some of the things’ she wrote in her 2023 book and praising Justin’s two new songs

‘Regarding what she said in her book, she never intended for people to come after Justin in the way that they did. 

‘Ultimately it was Britney’s decision to abort her baby. It was her body and had she really wanted to say no, she could have.’

Sunday saw Britney extend an olive branch to her ex after she apologized on Instagram for ‘some of the things’ she wrote, while also praising Justin’s two new songs Selfish and Sanctified.

The insider stressed that the Toxic singer still wishes the best for her former partner – who still hasn’t contacted Britney to apologize for his alleged actions.

‘You will always have feelings for the first person that you loved,’ the source said. ‘Justin has come to her defense before, and she didn’t want to hurt him like she did and change the opinion people have of him…It was her story and she told it how she felt it needed to be told.’

They continued: ‘Justin never reached out to Britney, and they have not had any private conversation.

‘He has never apologized to her or addressed it with her. That being said, the fact that Britney’s song Selfish from 13 years ago is at number one is pure serendipity.’

In her olive branch post to Justin, Britney shared a recent clip of Justin performing with classroom instruments on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

‘I wanna apologize for some of the things I wrote about in my book,’ she wrote. ‘If I offended any of the people I genuinely care about I am deeply sorry…

Last week Britney’s loyal fans managed to send her 2011 song Selfish back up the charts after Justin dropped his new single with the same name on Friday 

It came after Britney made multiple accusations against her ex in The Woman In Me, including criticizing his 2002 track Cry Me a River for how it made her look (pictured 2002)  

‘I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake’s new song “Selfish” It is soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard ??? Ps “Sanctified” is wow too.’

Justin was trolled by Britney’s fans after telling her side of the story two decades on from their split, with many left angered by her claim that his single Cry Me a River saw her vilified for their break up.

Justin promoted his albums and songs under the narrative that she broke his heart and even used a Britney lookalike for the 2002 track.

In 2018 Justin said he was so emotional following the split that he unloaded his feelings by writing Cry Me a River in just two hours.

The popstars dated from 1999 until 2002 (pictured in 2002)  

Britney (B-R) and Justin (R) originally met as children starring as Mouseketeers on The Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993-1994

‘I felt there was no way at the time to tell my side of the story,’ she recalled in her memoir. ‘I couldn’t explain, because I knew no one would take my side once Justin had convinced the world of his version. I don’t think Justin realized the power he had in shaming me. I don’t think he understands to this day.’

Britney also revealed she got pregnant by Justin in 2000 with the singer undergoing an abortion because the N*Sync star ‘didn’t want to be a father.’

The Sometimes hitmaker detailed the ‘agonizing’ decision to terminate the pregnancy after conceiving in late 2000 when the pair were both 19.

The star claimed while she wanted the baby and ‘dreamed of having a family’ with Justin, he ‘wasn’t ready’ for the responsibilities of parenthood and thought the pair were too young.

She wrote: ‘It was a surprise, but for me, it wasn’t a tragedy. 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.

‘He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young. I’m sure people will hate me for this, but I agreed not to have the baby.

‘I don’t know if that was the right decision. If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it. And yet Justin was so sure that he didn’t want to be a father.’

She went on to accuse Justin of cheating on her during their three-year relationship.

In the memoir, Britney also revealed she got pregnant by Justin in 2000 with the singer undergoing an abortion because the N*Sync star ‘didn’t want to be a father’ (pictured in 2001)

Britney didn’t name the person the hitmaker allegedly cheated on her with, referring to her as ‘another celebrity.’

It was previously reported that Justin wanted to refrain from speaking out on the allegations so as not to ‘get in the way’ of Britney’s chance to finally share her story. 

However, the Sexy Back singer appeared to reference the criticism while performing at the opening of the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas last month.

Ahead of launching into Cry Me A River, he told the audience: ‘No disrespect.’

A source close to Spears then told Daily Mail.com that while she ‘appreciated’ that he acknowledged the controversy around the Grammy-winning song, he has never reached out to apologize.

‘The disrespect to Britney was done a long time ago and although she appreciates his acknowledgement of it, Justin has never called her personally or reached out to her personally to apologize,’ the insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.

‘He has never addressed this with her. Ever. Britney has moved on from this and writing her book allowed her to release it. She’s good.’