In a surprising twist, Britney Spears’ 2011 song “Criminal” has resurfaced on the charts, thanks to the efforts of her dedicated fans. This revival follows the recent arrest of her ex-boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, for driving while intoxicated.
On the morning of June 18, Timberlake, 43, was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, after police found him operating his vehicle under the influence. According to the Sag Harbor Police, Timberlake was detained at 12:37 a.m. after he ran a stop sign and exhibited signs of intoxication during a field sobriety test. His vehicle, a 2025 BMW, had failed to keep to the correct side of the road.
The police report noted Timberlake’s impaired state, including bloodshot eyes, a strong smell of alcohol, and unstable movements. He admitted to having “one martini” and claimed he was following friends home. Timberlake was charged with driving while intoxicated and given citations for the stop sign violation and improper lane usage. After spending the night in custody, he was released following his arraignment and is scheduled to appear in court on July 26.
In response to the arrest, Spears’ fans quickly rallied on social media to push “Criminal,” a single from her Femme Fatale album, back onto the charts. By the time of publication, the track had reached No. 68 on the iTunes Pop Chart, demonstrating the power and influence of Spears’ fan base. This is not the first instance where her supporters have banded together to boost her music; a similar event occurred in January when Timberlake released a song titled “Selfish,” coincidentally the same name as one of Spears’ singles. Fans’ efforts then propelled Spears’ “Selfish” to the top of the iTunes charts.
The renewed interest in “Criminal” comes on the heels of revelations in Spears’ 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me, where she shared insights into her past relationship with Timberlake. As Timberlake faces his legal challenges, Spears’ fans are once again showing their solidarity and support by ensuring her music remains in the spotlight.
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