Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were Y2K royalty sitting on an all-denim throne. Unfortunately, their friends-to-lovers relationship took place at the crossroads of the entertainment machine and purity culture. While women were chastised for their sexuality, men were celebrating theirs, high fiving each other in shock jock DJ booths. While Justin’s career thrived in the public eye, Britney was subject to constant criticism and a long abusive conservatorship. In this episode, we’ll revisit their relationship to explore the double standards of celebrity culture. We’ll also talk to Tess Barker, co-host of Toxic: The Britney Spears Story, about her experience in the #FreeBritney movement.

03:30 – Timeline Recap

53:00 – Discussion with Tess Barker

1:45:00 – Tropes and Pairings