Justin Timberlake revealed he has been battling Lyme disease during his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, which concluded recently.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, July 31, Timberlake shared photos from his tour and reflected on his experience. “As I’m reflecting on the tour and festival tour, I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me,” he wrote.
Timberlake disclosed his diagnosis, saying, “Among other things, I’ve been battling some health issues and was diagnosed with Lyme disease—not to gain sympathy, but to shed light on what I’ve been facing behind the scenes.”
He continued, “If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has, then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically. When I first got the diagnosis, I was shocked. But it helped me understand why I would be onstage in pain or feeling extreme fatigue or sickness. I had to make a personal decision. Stop touring? Or keep going and figure it out. I chose to continue because the joy of performing outweighs the stress my body was feeling. I’m glad I kept going.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Lyme disease is caused by borrelia bacteria, transmitted through tick bites, often in wooded areas. Symptoms include rashes, body pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, and immune-system issues.
Timberlake joins other musicians like Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, and Justin Bieber, who have publicly shared their experiences with Lyme disease.
His post comes as his Forget Tomorrow tour, which started in April 2024 following the release of his album “Everything I Thought It Was,” concludes. The tour made Timberlake the 10th top touring artist on Billboard’s midyear Boxscore report, grossing $73.2 million across 41 shows as of late May.