Justin Timberlake reveals Lyme disease diagnosis

In a lengthy Instagram post, Justin Timberlake reflects on the tour and recent months, marked by a diagnosis he had not previously shared publicly. “As many of you know, I’m a pretty private person,” he writes. “But as I look back on this tour, I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me.”

The artist explains that he has faced several health issues during this period, including the Lyme disease diagnosis. “I don’t say this so you feel bad for me, but to give some context about what I’ve been dealing with behind the scenes,” he states.

He describes living with the illness as “mentally and physically exhausting”, citing persistent symptoms such as nerve pain, extreme fatigue and a constant sense of illness. “When I first got the diagnosis, I was shocked. But at least I understood why I was feeling that way on stage,” he continues.

During the tour, he seriously considered the possibility of cancelling it. However, he says that the act of performing and connecting with the audience outweighed the physical strain. “I’m glad I kept going,” he says.

He also mentions that he was raised to keep things like this private, but has chosen to speak out to avoid misunderstandings. “I’m trying to be more transparent about my struggles. Sharing this feels like a way to connect—and maybe it can help others going through the same thing,” he writes.

The tour promoted his sixth studio album, Everything I Thought It Was, which includes the singles Selfish, No Angels, and Drown.