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I would firstly just like to say I feel sorry for Jessica Biel. Last week pictures surfaced of her husband Justin Timberlake getting very close to his Palmer co-star Alisha Wainwright at a bar in New Orleans. The pair were photographed holding hands and Wainwright had her hand on Timberlake’s leg for a good 11 seconds. (Yes, American media outlets sure counted it!)
While Wainwright’s publicist was swift to shut down the rumours of any romantic interaction, it didn’t matter. What followed was a swarm of paparazzi surrounding Biel as she attempted to run errands. “Was she wearing her wedding ring?” “Why did she look so glum?”
The pictures and their aftermath would have been humiliating for Biel.
On Wednesday night, Timberlake released a personal statement – a week after the happenings – via Twitter.
“I stay away from gossip as much as I can, but for my family I feel it is important to address recent rumours that are hurting the people I love,” he wrote. “A few weeks ago I displayed a strong lapse in judgement – but let me be clear – nothing happened between me and my co-star. I drank way too much that night and regret my behaviour. I should have known better.”
“This is not the example I want to set for my son,” he continued. “I apologise to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation, and I am focused on being the best husband and father I can be. This was not that. I am incredibly proud to be working on Palmer. Looking forward to continuing to make this movie and excited for people to see it.”
As there was a little bit of a lag in Timberlake releasing this apology, a lot of people are speculating that his marriage might still be focused on this discretion – and that Biel put him up to making a public apology to reaffirm his commitment to her. And that’s the part that is ridiculous.
Timberlake did the wrong thing. Wainwright did the wrong thing. So why is the world fixated on making Biel the bad guy? One talk show host I do want to call out is Wendy Williams who told her live audience today – and a small portion of America – that the apology only made things seem a bigger deal than they were. This point, I tend to agree with.
But Williams then said “there’s nothing wrong with a hand on a knee sometimes” and that Timberlake’s statement “only brought more light to the fact your marriage must be in scrambles right now.”
“They look good together, but I don’t really understand the appeal of Biel beyond a look,” she continued before saying Timberlake needed someone with more of a “swivel in their step”. “I don’t see her being able to dance to his music or drink all night with him. Maybe too serious for him.”
All I see here is Williams bringing more light to the fact she’s desperate for a headline. And yes, I may have given it to her here, but I couldn’t not spotlight how awfully mean her comments were as a means of covering somebody else’s bad behaviour. And maybe it’ll be a reminder to be kinder to one another.
