As Justin Timberlake’s Forget Tomorrow World Tour continued in New York, ‘Free Justin’ was heard to have been yelled by the crowd in an apparent Britney Spears joke as Justin is having legal troubles.

Justin Timberlake’s Forget Tomorrow World Tour concert at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night had some lively fans in attendance.

While some were there just to enjoy the 43-year-old multi-hyphenate perform his chart-topping songs, others took an opportunity during the show to tease his ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears, 42, who he dated from 1999 to 2002. After Justin’s DWI arrest last week, an apparent Britney joke was heard thrown the Gimme More singer’s way.

Britney Spears and Justin
Justin and Britney Spears dated from 1999 to 2002 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Britney documented the strenuous process of freeing herself from Jamie Spears’ – her father and conservator from 2009 to 2021 – control in her memoir The Woman in Me released last year. Apparently the concertgoer felt inclined to scream ‘Free Justin’ now that Justin is having legal troubles.

Last Tuesday, the Sexy Back crooner was arrested in Sag Harbor in the Hamptons after reportedly running a stop sign, and was seen “swerving.” Justin claimed to the police who pulled him over that he “had one martini,” according to an arrest report obtained by People.

TMZ reported that sources in law enforcement had told the news outlet that police smelled alcohol on his breath and that he was unable to pass the field sobriety test. The test included him having to walk and turn and balance on one leg. Needless to say, the Mickey Mouse Club alum was booked. According to BBC News, “[Justin] was released without bail after being formally charged, and is scheduled to appear virtually in court on 26 July.”

Justin Timberlake concert
A Justin fan screamed ‘Free Justin!’ at his concert performance on Tuesday
Just like the aforementioned Justin fan poked fun at Britney, tons of Britney’s fans mocked Justin following his arrest. Several lacked sympathy for him, remembering how he seemingly publicly judged Britney years ago for drinking too much like he just did.

“Stop drinking. You know who you are, I’m speaking to you. Stop drinking, you’re gonna get sloppy, OK is gonna say something bad about you,” Justin said in a clip from 2007 that an individual shared on X, formerly Twitter. Justin didn’t name who was addressing, however, many deduced that he was talking about Britney. Circa 2007 the pop star was reportedly struggling with addiction.

“KARMA #JusticeForBritney #criminal,” one Britney fan wrote on X.

Britney’s fanbase used Justin’s arrest in an attempt to get Britney’s 2011 song Criminal back onto the music charts. Early last week there was an entire movement on X where the Crossroads star’s fans were pushing for people to stream Criminal.