Britney Spears Clarifies The Meaning Behind Her New Tattoo

Singer Britney Spears wants to make it clear her new tattoo has nothing to do with her ex, Justin Timberlake.

On January 17, 2023, she shared a photo featuring her and the "Cry Me A River" singer that she quickly deleted. The "Hold Me Closer" singer then followed it up with a video that featured her getting a new tattoo in her hotel room in Maui, Hawaii.

This prompted several fans to speculate that the new tattoo was actually about her ex, something that the 41-year-old pop star took to Instagram to deny on Thursday night.

In her Instagram Stories, the “Slumber Party” singer put out a quick message, writing, “Just to clarify … my tattoo had nothing to do with an ex in the past !!! I simply did it because I wanted to !!! The pic with my ex is a time where there was less confusion on what it meant to be together … it is what it is !!!”

Britney has been dating Iranian actor Sam Asghari since 2016 and the two finally tied the knot in June 2022, shortly after her stifling 13-year conservatorship was struck down in November 2021. However, it seems things aren't all smooth sailing for the couple.

Last Friday, the "Toxic" singer was reportedly acting "manic" at a Joey restaurant in Los Angeles after she went out with her husband for a quiet meal. Although everyone can agree that Britney became uncomfortable when sources started recording her, at least one witness reported that the pop star started "yelling" and "talking gibberish."

One source then said that Sam actually stormed out of the restaurant, leaving Britney alone in the booth. Britney and her bodyguard left a few minutes later, sources say, with her bodyguard returning a few minutes later to pick up the bill.

However, the former personal trainer has vehemently denied these allegations. “People get a little bit excited to see my wife. So everybody’s filming. Everybody’s doing their thing,” Sam told a reporter on Sunday.

“But you know how it is, uh, fame comes with the territory and I went to get the car to get the h*ll out of there and people just thought I’d left but that didn’t happen. So it is what it is, man,” he said.

Sam later added, “Yeah, you know, when you sit down to have a meal and people get their cameras out and start filming you, it’s disrespectful, but you know what? Fame, it just comes with the territory and that’s it.”

There are only two things that fans can say for sure about Britney’s new tattoo. It’s not about Justin Timberlake and she hates it.

In an Instagram video posted on Tuesday, Britney dances around singing “tattoo time, tattoo time” in a pink floral top and white shorts. She then changes into a yellow top and rolls up her sleeve to get a tattoo, which she declares “very cool” at the end of the video.

However, it seems Britney has since had a change of heart. In the caption, Britney wrote, “Tattoo in Maui 3 days ago 😜😜😜 !!! Can’t show it because it sucks 😂😂😂 !!! Like really really sucks !!! Sh*t 🙈🙈🙈 !!! Psss … I have to fix it 🙄🙄🙄 !!!”

It’s unclear if Sam accompanied Britney on her sudden weekend trip to Maui, which was likely to avoid all of the paparazzi after Friday’s viral incident. Unfortunately, Britney has shared no more information about her new tattoo, except that it will probably be covered up pretty quickly.

In a quickly deleted Instagram post, Britney shared a photo of her and Justin wearing matching basketball jerseys. The former couple dated from 1999 until 2002. Justin has been married to “Playing For Keeps” actress Jessica Biel since 2012 and the couple has two children together.

"When we used to shoot hoops TOGETHER … that's when miracles happened!!!” Britney wrote in the caption. “I came out of my mom's stomach just like we all did!!! Psss … why always cast me out ??? I'm equal as all!!!"