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LAST LAUGH
‘Grouchy’ Justin Timberlake outgrew child star people pleasing, Britney is trapped ‘auditioning’ to world, expert says
The pair both shot to fame as child stars, but have coped very differently over the past 21 years
BOTH former child stars, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears' coping mechanisms were put to the test in the wake of their iconic 2002 breakup.
According to a body language expert, only Justin appears to have “outgrown his basic traits" since then, leaving his ex “locked in the past.”
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Britney’s memoir dropped today with her three-year relationship with Justin, 42, put under massive scrutiny once again.
The Woman in Me tells how Justin dumped her via text and allegedly persuaded Britney, now 42, to get an abortion.
Britney’s shock book revelations, 21 years on, comes after Justin reunited with his former boy band NSYNC for a short comeback.
The Cry Me a River hitmaker has been promoting a single for a movie soundtrack.
The married father-of-two shared clips on showing bandmates JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass.
Body language expert Judi James noticed Justin’s “fake smiles” in historical footage, and claimed Justin showed “a desire for control.”
Britney met the Tennessee native in 1993 and joined the NSYNC tour a few years later.
As their careers skyrocketed in 1999, Justin and Britney confirmed they were a couple.
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In an exclusive interview, James told The U.S. Sun: “Justin has outgrown the fake smiles and the need to be a people pleaser.
“Justin allows the camera to watch him.
“When he looks towards it, his expression is stern and challenging rather than passive and pleasing as he was as a child star.
“He has adopted dominance, leadership, confidence, and an ability to be in control of both himself and his circumstances.
“His new video with NSNYC sees him sitting upright and looking like an adult.
“He even added an aggressive message to his fans: ‘Let us know if you like, it if you don’t go f**k yourself.’
“This comment looks and sounds like that of a grouchy old man.”
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James compared Justin’s gestures with recently divorced Britney.
She said the Toxic hitmaker appeared “less in control ” than before as she posts dance videos from the confines of her Californian home.
“Both Britney and Justin first hit fame as child stars as Mouseketeers in the Mickey Mouse Club," she explained.
Britney had joined the show in 1993 and appeared through 1994.
Justin, who was also 12 years old, started at the same time and alongside stars like Christina Aguilera.
James said: “The body language traits embedded as young stars became part of their repertoire.
“Justin outgrew most of his traits but Britney has locked into her childhood and stayed there.
“Her body language moves further backward into that childhood at times.
“The non-verbal signals she uses in her Instagram videos suggest she has less confidence.
“Britney is less in control of herself than when she appeared in videos as a teenager.
“She looks like a child still auditioning for fame.”
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Britney and Justin appeared to get on with their personal lives after splitting in 2002.
While rumors spread that Spears had cheated with choreographer Wade Robson, she was also linked to stars such as actor Colin Farrell.
Britney wed Jason Alexander in 2004 followed by dancer Kevin Federline with whom she now shares two sons.
After Britney's conservatorship ended, she married personal trainer Sam Asghari in June 2022.
The actor filed for divorce in August after only a year of marriage.
Justin meanwhile dated a slew of stars including Cameron Diaz, Jenna Dewan, Fergie, and Alyssa Milano.
He went on to find love with actress Jessica Biel whom he married in 2012.
The pair have had their ups and downs, including a split because of a photo scandal.
Justin and Jessica renewed their vows and now share two sons.
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James claimed Britney and Justin do still share one trait, showing a similar sadness.
“Justin, like Britney, shared a habit of producing a mirthless laugh, " she explained.
“This is one of the saddest gestures that reflect a desire to please by looking happy despite inner sadness.
“It is common among child stars who grew up being taught to wear an overkill smile.
“It is an open mouth with a display of upper and lower teeth but an incongruent eye expression.
"The smile is only in the mouth.
“Justin uses both a mirthless smile and a mirthless laugh in his historic NSYNC video.
“He was trying to signal he was having fun playing around like a kid when in fact he was not.
“Justin even claps his hands in an act of distraction as he accepts an award with the others.
"This shows how much effort he is putting into this happiness mask.
“But while he has dropped this over the years, Britney has not and is still trying so hard to please.”
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Interestingly, over the years the two celebrities have waded in and out of the controversy surrounding the end of their relationship.
Justin told People magazine that he was heartbroken in 2002 - and fueled cheating rumors with his Cry Me a River music video.
Britney released her own breakup track, Everytime. She opened up to Diane Sawyer who grilled her over the dramatic split.
Their back and forths saw Justin support the #freebritney movement which culminated in the end of her 13-year conservatorship.
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James continued: “Justin looks like an adult now who likes to be professional but if you don’t like what he’s doing that’s your loss.
“[Britney's] childishness seems to suggest she underestimates how popular and loved she is by the fans.
“It is Britney, not Justin who continues on with these constant pleasing displays.
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“Despite her freedom, Britney shows these sad eye expressions which show the vulnerable child inside.
“Those child-robot traits are very much on display.”
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