Justin Timberlake has a serious illness

Justin Timberlake revealed on Thursday (July 31) that he has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, a bacterial condition transmitted by infected ticks. The announcement came after criticism of his recent stage performance, which was marked by reduced vocal and physical intensity. The American singer chose to publicly clarify the health issues he had been facing since the beginning of his tour.

Lyme disease is more common in the Northern Hemisphere and can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Symptoms include muscle and joint pain, fatigue, fever, skin lesions, and even neurological and cardiac disorders. In the United States, where Timberlake lives, cases are more frequent, unlike in Brazil, where the infection is considered rare.

The "Forget Tomorrow" tour, which began in April 2024 shortly after the release of the album Everything I Thought It Was, visited 41 cities and grossed approximately $73.2 million. During the performances, the artist reported recurring episodes of intense pain and extreme fatigue, which led to a medical investigation that resulted in the diagnosis of the disease.

As he recounted, the impact of the diagnosis was immediate: "When I first received the diagnosis, I was truly shocked. But at least I could understand why I would go on stage feeling intense nerve pain or extreme fatigue and malaise."

Faced with the situation, Timberlake considered canceling the remaining shows of the tour, but decided to continue: "I decided that the joy of being on stage far outweighs the temporary stress my body was feeling. And I'm so glad I continued."

The singer also commented on the difficulty in sharing his health condition with the public. "I was reluctant to talk about it because I was raised to keep things like that to myself, but I'm trying to be more transparent about my struggles so they're not misinterpreted."

At another point, he reinforced the personal nature of the statement: "I'm not saying this to make you feel sorry for me, but to shed light on what I've been dealing with behind the scenes. If you've ever had this disease or know someone who has, then you know: living with it can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically."

Finally, Timberlake expressed gratitude to the audience and expressed hope in contributing to the understanding of the condition: "Sharing all of this with the hope that we can all find a way to be more connected. I would like to do my part to help others who are going through this disease too."