Justin Timberlake’s ‘Forget Tomorrow’ Tour defies critics and draws sell-out crowds

Justin Timberlake has been public enemy number one for many in recent years. 

His music flopped with critics and fans alike, and past controversies with Janet Jackson and Britney Spears continued to cast a long shadow. However, his current "Forget Tomorrow World Tour" is throwing a wrench into the narrative.

Timberlake's latest album, "Everything I Thought It Was," couldn't crack the top spot on the Billboard charts, and public sentiment towards him hit rock bottom after the release of Britney Spears' memoir, "The Woman in Me." But "Forget Tomorrow World Tour" has defied expectations.

Launched in May, the tour has crisscrossed the US receiving rave reviews and selling out arenas. 

Critics have praised Timberlake's energetic performances and crowd-pleasing setlists, while fans, many millennial women reliving their youth, are lapping it up. 

One headline from The Hollywood Reporter declared the tour "revives the reigning prince of pop." 

Quotes from fans attending the shows paint a picture far rosier than Timberlake's online reputation.

Social media tells a different story. Timberlake is often blamed for the downfalls of both Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, despite issuing apologies in 2021. 

Jackson herself publicly forgave Timberlake for the infamous 2004 Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction, stating in a 2002 documentary, "this whole thing was blown way out of proportion...Justin and I are very good friends, and we will always be very good friends." However, Timberlake's apology for benefiting from a "misogynistic industry" as a white man in 2021 did little to quell the online outrage.

The success of the tour suggests a disconnect between online critics and Timberlake's actual fan base. 

Concertgoers are clearly happy to separate the artist from the headlines, and the tour's popularity has even sparked discussions of an extension into Australia and a potential NSYNC reunion.

While the jury's still out on Justin Timberlake's complete redemption, his "Forget Tomorrow World Tour" is proving there's a significant audience eager to experience his music live.