As Justin Timberlake wrapped up his Forget Tomorrow world tour, he had an unexpected announcement to make to his fans. On Thursday, Justin took to Instagram to reveal that he has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, explaining why some of the shows on his tour needed to be canceled or rescheduled as he adjusted to his new normal.
After calling his tour “the most fun, emotional, gratifying, physically demanding, and, at times, grueling experience,” Justin went on to share that after dealing with “health issues,” he found out that he has Lyme disease, which he described as “relentlessly debilitating.”
“When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure,” he wrote. “But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness. I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out. I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going.”
Though he said he was “raised to keep something like this to yourself,” he said he wanted to connect with his fans by sharing his struggle.
According to Mayo Clinic, most people typically get Lyme disease from being bitten by a tick. It can cause symptoms like arthritis, neck pain, muscle weakness, and even rashes. While many cases of Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics if caught early, others may experience more chronic, longer lasting symptoms.
Justin ended his message by thanking the fans who came to see him on tour, the band, singers, crew and dancers who worked on the tour with him. He of course, also thanked his family — including wife Jessica Biel and their two sons, 10 year old Silas and 4 year old Phineas.
“To Jess, Silas, and Phin … nothing is more powerful than your unconditional love. You are my heart and my home. I’m on my way.”
His post also featured photos taken during the tour, with some featuring his family, including one that showed Jessica and Phineas watching the concert from the side of the stage.
Now that the tour is behind him, it sounds like Justin will finally get some long deserved rest and relaxation. There’s no doubt his kids are going to love having their dad home.
