Britney Spears’ 2011 track ‘Criminal’ is reaching the iTunes charts amid her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake’s recent arrest for driving while intoxicated.
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Timberlake was arrested on June 18 after he was found driving under the influence in Sag Habor, New York. Before his arrest, police officers said he was operating his 2025 BMW erratically and failing to adhere to traffic signs. During the stop, officers noticed that the singer was impaired, which included bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and poor performance on sobriety tests, leading to his arrest. After learning about Timberlake’s arrest, Spears’ fans launched a campaign to boost the popularity of “Criminal.”
The song is from her seventh studio album, ‘Femme Fatale’, which was initially released as a single on September 30, 2011, PEOPLE reported. It had some popularity during its original run, but now the song has revived in the charts, ranking No. 68 on the iTunes Pop Chart. “Wow, crazy timing! I remember ‘Criminal’ being one of my favorite tracks from Britney’s Femme Fatale era. Who would’ve thought that the song would get a resurgence in popularity after JT’s arrest?” one fan wrote on X.
RELATED STORIES: Justin Timberlake Has Been Arrested For Driving While Intoxicated
Timberlake and Speaks have a long history that goes back to their early careers, such as their start at the Mickey Mouse Club and later becoming one of the most high-profile couples in the music industry. However, their former relationship has still left a mark on fans, evident from their ongoing engagement with both artists’ music careers. Other fans of artists affiliated with Justin Timberlake, such as Janet Jackson and Jessica Simpson, also shared their reaction to the pop star’s arrest.
A parody account on X called Poo Crave made a false statement claiming Timberlake was arrested with drugs in his system. Still, his fanbase and other X users quickly called the account out for spreading misinformation.
Following his arrest, Timberlake was processed at the Sag Habor Police Headquarters and later released on his recognizance after appearing in court. He is scheduled for a follow-up hearing on July 26. However, the artist did not release a statement addressing his arrest.
