Credit: Alamy & @bellahadid/Instagram
The 44-year-old American singer is the latest star to be diagnosed with the disease, after taking to Instagram to share the sad news with fans.
After finishing his world tour, which began in April 2024, the ‘Mirror’ artist revealed that he had silently been battling the disease behind closed doors.
Timberlake announced: “Well, as these two incredible years come to an end and I look forward to the future, I wanted to write something from the heart.
“As many of you know, I’m a pretty private person… but I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me.”
As the heartbreaking statement continued, the singer revealed: “Among other things, I’ve been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease.”
The dad-of-two noted that he wasn’t looking for sympathy, but wanted to ‘shed some light’ on what he’s really been up against behind closed doors.
He continued: “If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has, then you’re aware – living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.
“When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure.
“But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”
But Timberlake isn’t the first celebrity to contract the disease in recent years.
Numerous household names have been diagnosed, leaving people wondering why so many famous faces are susceptible.
Among them is Justin Bieber, who revealed in 2020 that he had been receiving treatment for the illness.
Avril Lavigne also opened up about her diagnosis in 2015, when the singer noted she had ‘accepted death and could feel [her] body shutting down.’
Shania Twain also revealed in 2003 that her voice ‘was never the same again’ after being bitten by a tick and contracting Lyme disease.
In her documentary Not Just a Girl, she said: “I thought that was it, [and] I would never, ever sing again.”
Another celebrity to face the disease was Bella Hadid, who expressed how it changed her ‘perspective’ on life.
She was first diagnosed in 2015 but issued this update in 2023.
In an Instagram post, she said: “I have so much gratitude for and perspective on life, this 100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease, co-infection treatment, almost 15 years of invisible suffering, was all worth it if I’m able to, God willing, have a lifetime of spreading love from a full cup, and being able to truly be myself, for the first time ever.”
Amy Schumer broke the news of her diagnosis in a September 2020, noting she may have had the illness ‘for years’ without knowing.
Writing in her memoir ‘There Is No F***ing Secret: Letters From a Bada** B****,’ Kelly Osbourne also unpacked her journey with the condition.
She was bitten by a tick in England in 2004 and went undiagnosed for years.
But why do celebrities so often suffer from Lyme disease?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 400,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year.
It seems that a large portion of Hollywood has revealed Lyme disease diagnoses, because the illness is common in the United States.
The most common symptoms include a fever, a headache, fatigue, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat, arthritis and a skin rash.
Hulk Hogan’s official cause of death has been confirmed after the wrestler died last week, aged 71.
The wrestling legend’s death has left the sports entertainment world mourning one of its most iconic figures.
The beloved superstar, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, passed away on July 24 at his home in Clearwater, Florida, after emergency responders were called to treat him.
The circumstances surrounding Hogan’s death began to unfold on that Thursday morning when police and fire departments in Clearwater responded to a medical emergency call at 9:51 a.m.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” the wrestling organization stated at the time, per CNN. “One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
Hogan’s impact on professional wrestling cannot be overstated.
During the 1980s and 1990s, he became the face of WWE’s expansion into mainstream entertainment, helping transform wrestling from a regional attraction into a global phenomenon.
His larger-than-life personality and memorable rivalries with stars like ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper and ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage helped establish professional wrestling as a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Throughout his career, Hogan competed for major organizations including World Wrestling Federation (WWF), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and Total Nonstop Action (TNA), earning recognition as a 12-time world champion and cementing his status as one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture history.
The loss devastated Hogan’s family members, who each shared heartfelt tributes. His wife Sky Daily wrote on Instagram that her heart was ‘in pieces,’ describing the loss as ‘sudden and impossible to process.’
Hogan’s son Nick paid tribute to his ‘best friend,’ writing alongside throwback photos: “This has been overwhelming and extremely difficult.” The younger Hogan was visibly emotional during WWE’s televised memorial on Monday Night Raw.
Perhaps most poignantly, Hogan’s daughter Brooke, who had been estranged from her father in recent years, insisted that despite their fallouts, their bond ‘has never broken.’
She wrote: “When he left this earth, it felt like part of my spirit left with him. I felt it before the news even reached us.”
Even Linda Hogan, his ex-wife who was married to him from 1983 to 2009, admitted in her tribute that she was still in love with her former husband and that it was ‘so hard’ to know he was gone.
In the weeks leading up to his death, rumors had circulated about Hogan’s declining health.
The speculation intensified after he underwent what his wife Sky Daily described as ‘a major four-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)’ in May – a complex neck surgery with an extensive recovery period, Page Six reports.
Daily had attempted to quell the mounting concerns in early July, writing on social media: “No, he’s definitely not in a coma! His heart is strong, and there was never any lack of oxygen or brain damage. None of those rumors are true.”
She added that Hogan was ‘healing and we’re taking it one day at a time with love, strength, and patience.’
Just days before his death, Hogan’s longtime friend and former on-screen manager Jimmy Hart had painted an optimistic picture, posting on social media: “Hulk is doing great, doing phenomenal! Last night at karaoke with Nick [Hogan] was absolutely fantastic, baby!!!”
Hogan had been open about the physical toll his wrestling career had taken on his body.
In a September 2024 appearance on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, he revealed the extent of his medical challenges: “I’ve had like 25 surgeries in the last ten years, 10 of them were back surgeries. I’ve had 10 back surgeries, both knees and both hips replaced, shoulders – everything.”
Former WWE executive Eric Bischoff, who visited Hogan in his final days, described seeing his friend in a weakened state.
“It was work for him to have a conversation but he was the same guy,” Bischoff shared on his podcast, per People, noting that Hogan had been ‘kind of embarrassed’ to be seen in his condition.
One week after his passing, the medical examiner’s findings provided clarity about what ultimately claimed the wrestling legend’s life.
According to a cremation approval summary report via Today from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s office, Hogan died from acute myocardial infarction – commonly known as a heart attack.
The report revealed previously unknown details about Hogan’s medical history, including that he had been battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a form of blood cancer affecting white blood cells.
He also had a documented history of atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by irregular and rapid heartbeat that can increase the risk of heart complications, the Cleveland Clinic explains.
“I am not aware when Mr. Bollea will be cremated, only that we received a request for cremation approval,” a spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office confirmed, noting that his manner of death was ruled natural.
The revelation of Hogan’s private battle with leukemia came as a surprise to fans and the wrestling community, as he had never publicly disclosed his cancer diagnosis. The combination of his heart condition and cancer history ultimately contributed to the heart attack that ended his life.
First responders found Hogan in cardiac arrest and worked tirelessly for 30 minutes attempting to revive him before transporting him to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead.
Credit: Alamy
Justin Timberlake yesterday (July 31) revealed his silent battle with Lyme disease after noting that the illness is ‘debilitating.’
The American singer left fans heartbroken as he announced the sad news.
The 44-year-old took to Instagram to address what had been going on during his world tour, which began in April 2024.
The star was forced to cancel shows earlier this year due to ‘health reasons,’ which he was not specific about at the time.
Announcing the sad news, he said: “Well, as these two incredible years come to an end and I look forward to the future, I wanted to write something from the heart.
“This has been the most fun, emotional, gratifying, physically demanding, and, at times, grueling experience.
“I have been doing this for 30+ years (which feels crazy to say) – and have given all that I have to this. I could not have done it without my family, friends, and all of YOUR support.
“As many of you know, I’m a pretty private person…but I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me.”
Concert-goers had noticed the singer appeared ‘tired’ during some shows, and speculation about his health had skyrocketed prior to the 44-year-old speaking out.
But as the heartbreaking statement continued, the singer revealed: “Among other things, I’ve been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease.”
While making clear in the note that he is not looking for ‘sympathy’ from fans, the dad-of-two simply wanted to ‘shine a light’ on what he had been dealing with behind closed doors.
He added: “If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has, then you’re aware – living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.
“When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure.
“But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”
But what exactly is Lyme disease?
According to Dr. Leana Wen, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection.
Speaking to CNN, she explanied: “The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is the most common cause. In rare cases, Borrelia mayonii may cause the illness also. I
“In the United States, Lyme is the most common disease spread by vectors, which are animals like mosquitos and ticks that spread infections.”
She noted that there is three stages of battling Lyme disease.
The first begins within a day to four weeks following the tick bite, where people develop ‘flu-like symptoms such as headache, muscle aches and fatigue.’
Dr Wen added: “The second stage occurs three to 12 weeks after the initial infection.
“This is the ‘early disseminated’ stage in which people have more widespread symptoms.
“These can include dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, arthritis and facial nerve paralysis.”
The third can occur months after the initial infection, and is known as the ‘late disseminated’ stage.
Symptoms include ongoing joint pain, fatigue, depression, palpitations, and other neurological, rheumatological, and cardiac involvement.
However, it’s important to note that early diagnosis and prompt treatment can prevent complications, and the progression to the next stages of disease.
Fans flooded the comments with well wishes for Timberlake, who admitted that getting personal felt quite difficult.
One said: “You’re a legend!
“Thank you for everything you have done over the years. Enjoy your time with the family and rest up.”
Another added: “You did it with grace my brother. Get some rest!!”
