Justin Timberlake's Lyme diagnosis reignites celeb rehab conspiracies

Justin Timberlake announced Thursday that he's been diagnosed with Lyme disease, calling it relentlessly debilitating, both physically and mentally

But after his candid confession, why are people online suggesting Lyme disease is really code for something else

An ex-post from Thursday reads, Celebrity suddenly gets diagnosed with Lyme disease equals in rehab for smoking crack justifies looking malnourished needs privacy at this time

And there are several other posts like it, even a Reddit thread of users debating the topic

One user asked, Can someone please explain to me why so many celebrities have Lyme disease

I live in the Midwest near lots of woods in a 20-mile radius and I don't know a single person to have Lyme disease

With people responding, explaining the code word discourse and how the diagnosis can't be proven

When model Bella Hadid opened up about her diagnosis in 2023, one user wrote

How come only celebs have Lyme disease? I've never heard of a regular person getting it

And another user from that same year directly linking the illness to addiction, saying

you don't have chronic Lyme disease. What you need to do is leave that dope alone

Timberlake is now part of a growing list of stars with Lyme disease, from Shania Twain to Justin Bieber

Amy Schumer to Kelly Osbourne. And here's what's fueling the suspicion. At least half of this list has also been publicly linked to substance abuse

reality star Yolanda Hadid and her daughter Bella were both diagnosed, but Bella faced rehab rumors that a source later denied

Even her brother suffers from Lyme. I know what it feels like to not want to get out of bed

from bone pains and exhaustion and days on end and not want to socialize or be around people

because the anxiety and brain fog just isn worth it The CDC says most people recover from Lyme disease with antibiotics in two to four weeks but in rare cases untreated infections can lead to ongoing fatigue aches or neurological symptoms

A 2019 paper from two French doctors took a harsher stance titled chronic Lyme disease

a scam that should be condemned. They claim there's no proof of chronic Lyme existing

calling it a diagnosis driven by media hype and alternative doctors. It reads in part

this irrational diatribe has been picked up by the media and orchestrated by sectarian supporters of such syndrome

i.e. off-the-rails physicians, associations proclaiming to defend the patient's interest, and even political figures

So while many people may be doubting the diagnosis of Timberlake and other figures

he did experience some struggles during his tour that just wrapped. His tour began in April 2024, but just two months later, he was arrested for DWI in New York, refused a breathalyzer, and was later sentenced to community service

Throughout the rest of the tour, shows were postponed or canceled for bronchitis, laryngitis, the flu, and even a back injury

One February concert that was rescheduled ended up being canceled just minutes before start time, further frustrating fans

And by the end of the tour, audiences were noticing the former NSYNC member looking out of sync and even half-hearted at times

But Timberlake says this wasn't about hiding anything. He called his diagnosis exhausting and hopes that by speaking out, he can help others living with the disease

With Straight Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more