Justin Timberlake at Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2024

Justin Timberlake Humiliated By Crowd As New Album Flops On Tour

Home / Entertainment / Justin Timberlake Humiliated By Crowd As New Album Flops On Tour

By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on February 26, 2025 at 9:15 AM EST

Justin Timberlake's latest concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, left many fans disappointed, as the pop star leaned heavily on new material that failed to resonate with the crowd.

The 44-year-old singer, whose "Forget Tomorrow World Tour" has been marred by controversy, took the stage on Monday night, but instead of delivering a nostalgic set packed with his biggest hits, Justin Timberlake insisted on performing tracks from his latest album, "Everything I Thought It Was," an album that has struggled commercially.

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Fans Left Silent As They Struggle To Sing Along To Justin Timberlake's New Music

Justin Timberlake at Los Angeles Special Screening Of DreamWorks Animation And Universal Pictures' 'Trolls Band Together'
Rudy Torres/Image Press Agency/MEGA

According to a critical review by the Minnesota Star Tribune, Timberlake performed as many as 11 songs from the underperforming album, with audience members visibly disengaged. At one point, the singer attempted to encourage the crowd to sing along to his latest single, only to be met with awkward silence as most fans did not know the lyrics.

Adding to the disappointment, a signature stage prop, a "monolith" that has been used in previous encore performances, was missing from the St. Paul show.

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Justin Timberlake's St. Paul Concert Falls Flat As Fans Complain About Setlist And Stage Setup

Justin Timberlake at Los Angeles premiere of 'In Time'
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Fans also complained about the concert layout, particularly Timberlake's decision to spend a significant portion of the performance on a secondary stage at the back of the arena.

"He spent quite a bit of time on a second stage at the back of the arena, and finished out the show back there, so lost a little luster for anyone toward the front," one concertgoer noted on Facebook.

The St. Paul show was initially scheduled for Halloween 2023, but had to be postponed due to Timberlake suffering from bronchitis and laryngitis. While the Star Tribune did acknowledge the singer's "natural showmanship, deft musicianship, and contagious energy," the overall sentiment was that the concert fell flat.

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Other Fans Show Support For Timberlake, Raving About His Concert

While many concertgoers complained about their experience, others took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to support the "Sexy Back" singer.

"Justin Timberlake was incredible," one person wrote alongside a video from the show.

"It just goes to show that [the haters] really had to grasp at straws to find something wrong with the show," another said. "His haters have been making some big stretches in order to discredit his talent. Justin truly is great if that is the worst they can come up with."

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Justin Timberlake's Infamous DUI Arrest

Justin Timberlake is glassy eyed on mugshot after being arrested
Sag Harbor PD/MEGA

This latest setback comes amid a turbulent period for Timberlake.

The "Cry Me A River" artist was pulled over in Sag Harbor, New York, in the early hours of the morning after allegedly running a stop sign and failing to stay in his lane. Reports indicated that officers noticed glassy eyes, a strong smell of alcohol, and slurred speech, prompting them to administer a field sobriety test, which Timberlake failed.

One of the most embarrassing aspects of the arrest was Timberlake's interaction with police, which was later revealed in bodycam footage. The video showed Timberlake pleading with the officer, allegedly saying, "This is going to ruin the world tour." However, the arresting officer reportedly had no idea who he was, which only added to the humiliation.

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After spending the night in custody, Timberlake was officially charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and later released without bail. Instead of fighting the charges, he accepted a plea deal, agreeing to a fine, license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education courses in exchange for avoiding jail time.

Timberlake's Previous Relationship With Britney Spears Sparks Controversy

Britney Spears at the World Premiere Of Sony Pictures' 'Once Upon a Time In Hollywood'
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Beyond legal troubles, Timberlake continues to face scrutiny over his past relationship with Britney Spears.

The pop star’s 2023 memoir, "The Woman In Me," detailed their tumultuous romance, alleging that Timberlake pressured her into having an abortion and painted her as the villain in their highly publicized breakup. The revelations further fueled backlash against the former NSYNC star, tarnishing his once-squeaky-clean image.

Despite the setbacks, the "Bye Bye Bye" artist is pressing on with additional international tour dates, with stops planned in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Norway, and Denmark before the tour concludes on June 14, 2025.

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