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Timberlake Song Secret: Not About Spears!
7 Nov
Summary
- Timberlake's hit song was inspired by a friend's breakup.
- He wrote the song in approximately 20 minutes.
- Britney Spears felt heartbroken by 'Cry Me a River' video.

Justin Timberlake recently clarified the inspiration behind his hit song "What Goes Around... Comes Around." Contrary to persistent rumors, the song does not detail a personal story from his own life or his past relationship with Britney Spears. Timberlake explained that the track was inspired by a close friend's difficult breakup.
He recounted asking his friend for permission to write about the situation, receiving an enthusiastic "torch that bitch" response. Timberlake highlighted the rapid creative process, stating the song and its accompanying interlude were written in approximately 20 minutes. He also noted the successful accompanying 10-minute music video.
While "What Goes Around... Comes Around" was not about Spears, Timberlake acknowledged that his 2002 song "Cry Me a River" was inspired by her. Spears, in her 2023 memoir, described feeling heartbroken and misrepresented by the "Cry Me a River" music video, which featured a lookalike.