Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s relationship is often cited as one of Hollywood’s most iconic romances and highly publicized romances. The two first crossed paths on The Mickey Mouse Club and dated for nearly three years before their 2002 breakup. But what really led to their split?
Interest in their past rekindled after Britney released her 2023 memoir The Woman in Me. Around that time, Justin announced his sixth album, launching the single “Selfish,” which spurred Britney’s fans to push her 2011 song of the same name back into the spotlight.
Keep reading to find out the reason why Britney and Justin split in 2002.
Both the Princess of Pop and the “Mirrors” crooner have addressed their breakup in the past. Immediately after their romance ended in 2002, Justin told PEOPLE that he had a “broken heart” over it but “will always love” Britney. For her part, the “Gimme More” artist explained that they split because they were “climbing two different mountains,” according to the outlet.
“Of course it’s gonna kind of hurt sometimes, and you wonder things,” Britney said at the time. “But you learn from it and grow. I’m trying to get to that point.”
In the years following their split, the exes made comments about each other, describing their relationship as immature. Justin called it “young love” and a “very intense relationship” during a 2002 interview on 20/20, whereas Britney acknowledged in her interview with Diane Sawyer that “it got way too serious, way too young.”
Justin was the one who ended things with Britney, as music video director Chris Applebaum told Page Six about the moment the “Mirrors” artist broke up with her via text. She allegedly revealed a message from Justin to Chris on the set of her music video for “Overprotected: The Dark Child Remix.” The text allegedly read just two words from him: “It’s over!!!”
