Britney Spears’ loyal and passionate fan base is making waves online once again. This time, they are being credited with helping the pop icon’s 2011 song “Selfish” climb above Justin Timberlake’s recently released track of the same name on the iTunes charts.
Timberlake, who is gearing up to release a new album in March, debuted his single on Thursday. However, within a day, Spears’ hit from 13 years ago soared to the number two spot on iTunes, while Timberlake’s song trailed behind at number three. It briefly reached the number one position, but it has since been overtaken by Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald’s “FACTS (feat. Ben Shapiro).”
Representatives for Apple, Spears, and Timberlake have yet to comment on the matter.
This surge in popularity for Spears’ song comes amid increased scrutiny faced by Timberlake from many of her fans. In her memoir, “The Woman in Me,” Spears revealed details about her relationship with Timberlake, whom she dated from 1999 to 2002. She shared personal experiences, including an abortion she had after becoming pregnant by Timberlake. Spears also mentioned instances of infidelity on both their parts.
Fans of Spears have developed a strong parasocial connection with the singer over the years. They have been vocal supporters of the #FreeBritney movement, advocating for her emancipation from the conservatorship under her father. The movement gained significant attention, ultimately leading to the termination of the 13-year-long conservatorship in 2021.
Interestingly, the push to trend Spears’ song started as a lighthearted joke among fans. A fan account called BritneyxYtube spoke with EW, stating, “Then we all joined in, saying that Britney Spears was coming back with a ‘brand’ new song. I still can’t believe that it became so big, and we see the results we see now.”
Fans took to social media to celebrate and express their excitement at “Selfish” surpassing Timberlake’s song. It’s clear that the power of unity among Britney stans is a force to be reckoned with.
Timberlake is scheduled to perform on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend as the show’s musical guest.
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