If we can all agree on something is that Britney Spears will pass into history, not only for her great talent and iconic songs, but also due to how the music industry, social media, and even us, the public, have treated her. Britney Spears’ life has been a living hell, as she has recalled in her recent memoir The Woman in Me, and how she was treated had a huge part in that matter.
Besides spilling good tea and some great mockery, Britney Spears’ book has also revealed that no matter how woke the entertainment industry pretends to be, misogyny still pervades. In a world where she was mocked and canceled while one of her biggest aggressors, Justin Timberlake, the person she loved, profited from her disgrace, it comes as no surprise that more men in the industry are preserving the patriarchal pact and keep abusing her.
Timbaland’s Disgusting Comments and the Patriarchal Pact
The term patriarchal pact is used to describe the unspoken agreement between men to uphold and maintain the patriarchal system, which is a social system in which men hold the primary power and authority. This pact is based on the idea that men are superior to women and that they have a right to rule over them. Keep this in mind.
Timbaland’s recent comments on Britney Spears’ book, prove this unspoken pact is pretty much still alive. Timbaland was willing to defend his pal Justin, with whom he has collaborated in many of his records, by saying something hideous that no one should ever say about a woman.
@dailymail Timbaland says Justin Timberlake needs to ‘PUT A MUZZLE’ on Britney Spears following the release of her tell-all memoir #fyp #timbaland #britneyspears #justintimberlake #showbiz
Last week, during a panel, Timbaland was asked about his opinions regarding Britney Spears’ memoir and how it has “affected” (or better said exposed) Justin Timberlake. This is what he replied: “I wanted to call and say, ‘JT, you gotta put a muzzle on that. girl” His hideous comment was met with laughter among the attendees, which makes it even more grotesque.
Not only did Timbaland diminish Britney by simply referring to her as “that girl” as if she wasn’t someone worth mentioning, but he even suggested that Timberlake has power over her. Now, the fact that he said that he should’ve put a muzzle on her is insinuating she’s an animal that has to be dominated. Considering that Spears spent 13 years treated like a “caged animal” makes his remarks even more hurtful.
Not only that, considering she spent 13 years secluded and controlled by a conservatorship that used her most vulnerable moments (mainly caused by Timbaland’s pal) is mocking her as a person. The famous music producer didn’t stop there, he added that Britney simply wanted to “do something to get people’s attention.” As if she hadn’t had enough of what people’s attention had harmed her.
A Lame Apology from a Petty Person
After Britney Spears’ fans rapidly slammed Timbaland, the producer went back to social media to apologize… well, to try to apologize. “I’m sorry to all the Britney fans, even to her. You have a voice. You speak what you want to speak. Who am I to tell you what not to speak? I was wrong for saying that,” he said.
Even his apology proves he’s well aware he’s protected by the Patriarchal pact. Britney and other women have been bashed and even canceled for saying less hurtful things. Timbaland implied Britney is an animal that can be controlled, and he knows he can get away with his comments by simply issuing a lame and petty apology.
@britneycharts #Timbaland apologies to #BritneySpears and fans
To the matter of respecting women, he even dared to say “Hell yeah.” As if his comments had simply been a bad joke. And that people, is how disgusting the industry and even society are. Britney exposed the misogynistic machinery behind the entertainment industry, one of the most powerful ones in the world, and still, those who abused her and diminished her will likely come back once the fuss over the book is over.
It is our responsibility to choose what products we consume and how much power we give to those who don’t even care about their actions. Because, yes, Justin Timberlake hasn’t even apologized to her for all the damage he made, and his friends, as we got to see, are willing to keep defending him.
