Britney Spears’ dedicated fan base is being recognized for their online efforts in propelling her 2011 song “Selfish” above Justin Timberlake’s recent release of the same name on the iTunes charts.
Timberlake, who is set to release a new album in March, debuted his single on Thursday. By Friday, Spears’ hit from 13 years ago had climbed to No. 2, while Timberlake’s song sat at No. 3 on iTunes. At one point, it even reached No. 1, but it has now been surpassed by Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald’s “FACTS (feat. Ben Shapiro),” which currently holds the top spot.
Despite the significant achievement, a spokesperson for Apple, as well as representatives for Spears and Timberlake, have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Timberlake, who gained fame as part of the group ‘N Sync, has faced scrutiny from many Spears fans in the past year following the release of her memoir, “The Woman in Me.” The two stars, who first met as children on the set of “The Mickey Mouse Club,” dated from 1999 to 2002.
In her book, Spears revealed that she had an abortion after becoming pregnant by Timberlake. She also disclosed that he had cheated on her multiple times, and she admitted to cheating on him once with a dancer.
Spears’ fan base has developed a strong parasocial connection with the singer, advocating for her for years.
The #FreeBritney movement, a collective of fans who primarily gathered online to question the necessity of the singer’s conservatorship under her father, has been credited by Spears herself for bringing attention to her situation. The 13-year conservatorship came to an end in 2021.
According to a fan account called BritneyxYtube, who spoke with EW, the movement to make Spears’ song trend initially started as a joke.
“Then we all joined in, saying that Britney Spears was coming back with a ‘brand’ new song,” the fan told EW. “I still can’t believe that it became so big, and we see the results we see now.”
Numerous fans expressed their joy online as Spears’ “Selfish” surpassed Timberlake’s song, with some even celebrating the occasion with a bottle of champagne.