Britney was in Mouseketeer 'love square' before Justin wooed her with 'swag'

19 October 2023 , 08:30

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Britney was in Mouseketeer 'love square' before Justin wooed her with 'swag'

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's whirlwind romance became one of the biggest love stories of the millennium. The global superstars met as teenagers as they performed in The Mickey Mouse Club and began dating in 1999, however they devastatingly split three years later.

They weren't the only original performers to find huge fame after the 1990s Disney show - with Britney having forged an incredibly successful career as a solo artist and Justin as a favoured member of NSync. They were joined by the likes of Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling, who had a major crush on Britney. The popular Barbie actor, who is married to Eva Mendes, previously admitted that he saw the troubled starlet as 'the girl next door'.

At the age of 12, he met the star - who is set to release a new memoir, , on October 24 - on the set of the American variety television show. Speaking to The Sunday Times Style magazine, he said: ''Britney was a sweetheart. She lived right above me, the girl next door. The little girl I used to play basketball and spin the bottle with.''

Young Ryan was besotted with Britney (REX)

Gosling has admitted to having a crush on his former co-star Britney, who instead found love with Justin (Getty Images)

But it appears there was drama away from the cameras, as while Ryan had fallen for Britney, she and co-star Christina both had crushes on Justin. In an appearance on James Corden's Carpool Karaoke segment of his The Late Late Show, the Dirty singer revealed the dynamics of the teen show's 'love square'.

"There were definitely crushes, but...I wasn’t on the train," the singer revealed. Corden asked "What train were you on? Were you on the Timberlake train?" Laughing, she replied admitting that she may have had a crush on the Cry Me A River star. "He had swag, I have to say," she added. "Even back then, he had swag."

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Explaining the love square going on between castmates, Christina began with hinting at the rumoured feud with Britney, saying: "There was me and Britney - well now, you know - there was a thing back then". She then suggested things could have looked very differently for the Baby One More Time singer if she had taken notice of Gosling's infatuation.

"I know Ryan pretty much... he did have a crush on Britney," she explained. "She must be regretting that," Corden joked before Aguilera reminded him that Spears ended up with Timberlake. "Oh yeah, you’re right, that worked out wonderfully for everybody," the host sarcastically added.

Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling in The Mickey Mouse Club (Disney/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

American pop stars Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake (Getty)

Level-headed Justin reportedly became a grounding force for Britney, protecting her from sleazy men after her attention. "Justin had his head screwed on so straight, and he rescued her from that world," a source told Rolling Stone in 2008.

"He became the great force in her life, but it started a pattern - she began to look for guys to help her get away from the people who control her." But it all came crashing down in 2002 when the pair dramatically parted ways amid rumours she had been unfaithful. The pair both continued to forge successful careers in the limelight, with a solo career following for Justin.

Speaking of the Club members' immense achievements, Gosling added: "'It is remarkable, but it isn't, in a way. Now you have 'The X Factor' and all that stuff, but back then it wasn't around. 'You give these kids an unparalleled work ethic which is why you see the difference between 'NSync and those other bands, and between Britney and Christina and the other girls.''

Saffron Otter