Britney Spears Reveals Abortion in Upcoming Memoir

by Venus Sanders

In her forthcoming memoir, "The Woman in Me," set to hit bookstores on October 24, iconic pop sensation Britney Spears opens up about a significant moment in her past. Spears discloses that during her relationship with Justin Timberlake, she faced a challenging decision to have an abortion.

Image Credit: James Devaney / Contributor / Getty Images

Spears, known as the Princess of Pop, shares in her memoir that her pregnancy came as "a surprise" but was not perceived as "a tragedy." She expresses her deep affection for Timberlake and her expectation of starting a family together someday. However, the unexpected pregnancy accelerated their family plans.

In an excerpt from the memoir published by People, Spears writes, "But Justin definitely wasn't happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren't ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young." She acknowledges the difficulty of their decision and conveys her uncertainty, saying, "I'm sure people will hate me for this, but I agreed not to have the baby. I don't know if that was the right decision. If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it. And yet Justin was so sure that he didn't want to be a father."

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The couple chose to terminate the pregnancy in late 2000 when Spears was just 18 or 19 years old. Spears describes the experience as "one of the most agonizing things" she has ever undergone.

While Timberlake's representative did not respond to She's SINGLE's request for comment, there had been prior concerns about what Spears, 41, might reveal in her memoir. A source told media that Timberlake, 42, had been "concerned" about the content of the book but clarified that it wasn't intended as a takedown of anyone in particular.

Spears and Timberlake began dating in 1999 during their teenage years and garnered significant media attention. Their high-profile breakup in 2002 was accompanied by allegations of infidelity. In response, Timberlake suggested in an interview with Barbara Walters that Spears had cheated on him, a claim that Spears neither confirmed nor denied at the time.

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The 2021 New York Times documentary "Framing Britney Spears" brought Timberlake's behavior during their relationship back into public scrutiny and led him to issue a public apology on social media. He acknowledged his past missteps and expressed support for Spears. The "SexyBack" singer also stood by Spears during her public court battle over her conservatorship.

As Spears navigates a divorce from Sam Asghari, Timberlake is married to Jessica Biel and is a father of two. The disclosure in Spears' memoir provides insight into a significant moment in the lives of these two iconic pop figures.