WASHINGTON, DC: Britney Spears' passionate fan base is up in arms over a recent controversial statement that the record producer Timbaland made while addressing the pop sensation's bombshell tell-all memoir, 'The Woman in Me'.

During a panel discussion, Timbaland apparently stated that Justin Timberlake should have "put a muzzle" on Spears, sparking outrage across social media platforms.

Timbaland says Britney Spears just 'wants to go viral' with her memoir 'The Woman in Me'

The controversy unfolded during a recent panel discussion at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, when Timbaland addressed the renewed interest in his and Justin Timberlake's iconic collaboration 'Cry Me a River,' driven by Britney Spears' new memoir.

In his comments, the record producer insinuated that Spears had been "going crazy" as a result of the renewed spotlight on their past. He apparently said, "I wanted to call and say, 'JT, you gotta put a muzzle on that'," during the 'Sounds Architects: A Producer Conversation' on October 30.

Timbaland claimed Spears was intentionally seeking attention, remarking, "You know what? We live in the age of social media and … everybody want[s] to go viral. I get it because that’s the way you make money [is to] go viral."

While Timbaland did draw laughter from some in the audience, Spears' devoted fan base, and other netizens were quick to call him out as they found the remarks insensitive and disrespectful.

Internet slams Timbaland for his remarks regarding Britney Spears

Soon after Timbaland's comments from the Kennedy Center came to light, netizens expressed their outrage and disappointment on social media.

One said, "when was timblands last hit?? ill wait," while another added, "wow timbaland, lost a lot of respect for you in the span of 5 mins."

A person pointed out the insensitivity of Timbaland's remark, saying, "This is in very bad taste especially given what Britney went through," while a user added, "I’m glad Britney is speaking up, their reactions are just proving that everything she said is true."

Someone else took a jab at Timbaland, stating, "maybe he should stop talking abt woman and revive his own career."

Reality star Kandi Burruss comes to Justin Timberlake's defense

Joining the chorus of support for Justin Timberlake, reality star Kandi Burruss recently defended him against Britney Spears' claims that he used to speak in a manner described as a "blaccent."

Speaking at BravoCon 2023, Burruss stated, "I just feel like that was young Justin. Leave him alone, y’all. He was a really, really good guy," as per Page Six.

In her new memoir, Spears addressed the painful details of their breakup, alleging that Timberlake, who is now 42, had cheated on her multiple times. She also confessed to her own infidelity with choreographer Wade Robson.

Additionally, the book revealed that Spears felt pressured by Timberlake to undergo a distressing abortion after discovering she was pregnant.

Following the release of the memoir, the 'Mirrors' singer opted to disable comments on his Instagram account due to the wave of anger from fans. In response, aggrieved fans turned to his wife, Jessica Biel's posts, expressing their dissatisfaction with Timberlake's actions.

As of now, Timberlake and Biel have remained silent about the ongoing backlash, opting instead to take a vacation in Mexico with their two children.