Justin Timberlake has been diagnosed with "relentlessly debilitating" Lyme disease

Justin told fans: "I've been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease - which I don't say so you feel bad for me - but to shed some light on what I've been up against behind the scenes."

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by ticks, which can cause symptoms ranging from nerve pain and fatigue to cognitive difficulties and chronic illness.

In his statement, Justin added the diagnosis helped explain "why (he) would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness".

He said: "I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out."

Justin, who first rose to fame as part of the boy band *NSYNC, opted to continue.

"The joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling," he said - adding: "I'm so glad I kept going."

He also said sharing his condition publicly was important to ensure his struggles were not "misinterpreted", adding he was proud to prove his "mental tenacity" during the tour, which has received mixed reviews for what some described as underwhelming performances.

Justin went on: "I chose to be transparent about (my) struggles, so they would not be misinterpreted."

The performer has sold more than 88 million records worldwide and has won ten Grammy Awards.

His latest tour began in April 2024 and included performances across Europe, North America and Asia.

He is married to 42-year-old actor Jessica Biel, with whom he shares two sons, Silas and Phineas.

Justin is far from the first celebrity to open up about being diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Fellow singer Avril Lavigne and model Bella Hadid have both spoken publicly about their experiences with the illness in recent years.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates around 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for the condition annually.