Justin Timberlake has disclosed that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease during his recent world tour. The pop star shared the news in an Instagram post marking the end of his two-year Forget Tomorrow tour, which wrapped up last week. Timberlake, 42, wrote that Lyme disease “can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” and admitted he had considered ending the tour when doctors informed him of the illness. Instead, he decided to push through. “I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going,” Timberlake wrote, explaining why he continued performing despite the diagnosis.
In his message, the former *NSYNC singer thanked his wife, actress Jessica Biel, and their two young sons for their support throughout his health struggles. Timberlake canceled or postponed a handful of shows during the tour citing various illnesses, but fans were unaware of the underlying cause until now. The Grammy winner did not specify when he contracted Lyme disease, which is typically spread by tick bites and can cause fatigue, pain and neurological issues, but he assured followers he is focused on recovery. Timberlake closed his post on an optimistic note, calling the tour “the stuff of legend” and telling fans he’ll cherish it “no matter what the future holds” for his performing career.
