The pop star says the illness caused nerve pain and exhaustion—explaining why fans noticed low energy during his tour.
Justin Timberlake just shared something personal with his fans: he has Lyme disease.
In a post on Instagram, the 44-year-old singer said he’s been dealing with the illness for a while, even while performing on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour. Some fans had noticed that he seemed low-energy during his shows. Now, Timberlake says there was a reason: he was in pain.
“I don’t say this so you feel bad for me,” he wrote, “but to shed some light on what I’ve been up against behind the scenes.”
Timberlake said Lyme disease gave him “massive nerve pain,” serious fatigue, and left him feeling sick during many performances. He also mentioned that he was “shocked” when he first got the diagnosis—but it helped him understand why his body felt so off.
Despite all of that, he decided to keep going with the tour. “The joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling,” he said.
Earlier in the tour, Timberlake had to cancel or move some shows. At the time, fans were told he had bronchitis, laryngitis, and back issues. Now we know Lyme disease was also part of the picture.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is an illness you can get from a tick bite. At first, it can feel like the flu: you might have a headache, sore joints, fever, or feel very tired. Some people also get a rash that looks like a bullseye
If it’s not treated early, Lyme disease can cause bigger problems, like nerve pain, swollen joints, brain fog, numbness, and facial paralysis.
It can affect both your body and your mind. That’s why it’s important to catch it early and get treated—usually with antibiotics.
Why He Kept Quiet
Timberlake says he didn’t want people to feel sorry for him. But after months of performing while feeling sick, he decided to be open about it
“I’m trying to be more transparent about my struggles,” he wrote, “so that they aren’t misinterpreted.”
In other words, he wanted fans to understand what he was going through—and why he may not have seemed like his usual energetic self.
Living with Lyme disease isn’t easy. And performing on a world tour while in pain takes strength. Now that Justin Timberlake is sharing his experience, it may help others with the same illness feel less alone.
It’s a good reminder that we never know what someone else might be going through—especially behind the scenes.
