I’m sorry. I had to. *NSYNC reunited yesterday and this gif has never been more relevant. 

 

Anyway, Justin Timberlake almost made it. He almost made it a full day without hijacking *NSYNC's moment. The boy band was given their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and shockingly, the ceremony was not The Justin Show as I predicted. All five members, including the band’s rightful frontman JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Justin Timberlake were honoured by Ellen DeGeneres and Carson Daly before giving their own speeches. 

Justin Timberlake’s speech was last, of course, but leading up to his turn at the mic, JT hung in the back and didn’t jump on anyone’s heads or step on anyone’s moments. The biggest moment of the ceremony came from Lance Bass, who used his acceptance speech to share heartfelt words on why he didn’t come out while he was in the band. 

“I thought if I had come out, *NSYNC would be over so out of fear I kept my secret and our wildest dreams were coming true and I was so incredibly thankful, and I still am. But so many nights on stage I’d see young gay fans singing their hearts out and wanted so badly to let you know that I was you. I just didn’t have the strength then but I do today and let me say loud and proud to all my LGBT brothers and sisters who embrace me and showed me the way to be who I am, thank you so much.” 

I can imagine that this speech meant the world to the young gay *NSYNC fans Lance was referring to. So much of the boy band culture revolves around the images we’ve all seen of the crying, screaming girls. I was that girl. I was in the crowd singing my heart out and crying my face off. The term “fanGIRL” epitomizes that 2000s boy band era. This weekend, I’m going to see a documentary called I Used To Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story. It’s what I thought of when I was watching Lance’s speech – that even in the words we use to describe fandom, we can be exclusionary. Lance’s speech was a powerful reminder that fandom isn’t exclusive to straight girls and that his coming out may make it so that other boys in other bands don’t feel like their success hinges on being in the closet.  

As for the other speeches, Chris and Joey were extraneous as usual and JC was endearing. When it came time for Justin Timberlake’s speech, I was ready for the eye-rolling. I only eye-rolled at JT’s effusive dedication to his “brothers” in *NSYNC. 

“I can’t put into words how much the four of you mean to me.” Remember that time they weren’t invited to his wedding though?  

Otherwise, JT gave a short shout-out to his wife (whose name is Jessica Biel but I don't think Justin knows that) and all of the band members’ moms but specifically his own mom Lynn who toured with the group while JT was a minor. By Justin Timberlake cockjacking standards, he was restrained and dare I say it…humble. 

Then, Justin Timberlake had to go full Justin Timberlake and make an appearance on Ellen the same day as his band’s Walk of Fame ceremony, in case anyone forgot who the real star of the group is. AS IF I just called him humble. Justin Timberlake is not on a promotional schedule right now. He’s not pushing his sh-tty album any more. He’s in the middle of his tour. The only reason he would have to do a full solo segment on Ellen (where he told baby anecdotes of course) was because he couldn’t go a full day without having the focus on HIM. 

After JT’s solo segment, he brought out the other guys in *NSYNC as a “surprise.” 

 

You know I love to snark but if I was in that audience and Tearin’ Up My Heart started playing, I may have lost my sh-t a bit too. Sincerely. Nostalgia’s a hell of a drug. As you can see in the above clip, Justin was back to being front and center. The interview portion revealed that the guys are all on a group chat. Do you think the other four have another chat going without Justin? Where they just sh-t on all of his cockjackery? 

*NSYNC also played “Never Have I Ever” on Ellen (why wasn’t this the whole show, again?) and everyone’s freaking out about the fact that Justin revealed he hooked up with a Spice Girl. It’s obviously NOT Victoria Beckham, right? I mean, she’s always had good taste and plus, she met David right around the time *NSYNC and the Spice Girls met. My guess is Geri Halliwell. You see how easily Justin Timberlake made it about him, AGAIN? 

 

You can watch *NSYNC’s entire Walk of Fame ceremony below.