Justin Timberlake Danced So Badly at the ‘Something In the Water’ Festival He Had to Apologize

Days after Something in the Water Festival in DC, Justin Timberlake went to social media to apologize for his onstage dance that went viral.

No, that wasn’t someone’s science teacher onstage. While performing during day two of Pharrell Williams‘ Something in the Water Festival, Justin Timberlake hit a dance on stage that was quite the misstep to some in attendance. While performing his 2006 FutureSex/LoveSounds single “Sexyback,” the ten-time Grammy winner jumped into a “Beat Ya Feet” dance before the clip went viral. Although Timberlake ultimately took the clip in jest, the singers moves were roasted in various tweets and TikTok recreations of the dance.

@corey_obrien

beat yo feet! @Justin Timberlake 👟 #fyp #dance #justintimberlake

♬ original sound – Corey O’Brien

Catching wind of the backlash, Timberlake posted an Instagram Story of him apologizing to unimpressed festivalgoers.

“D.C., I want to apologize to you for two reasons: here and here,” Timberlake said in the video, wearing the same shoes that he  did during the performance. “I had a long talk with both of them, individually, and said, ‘Don’t you ever do that to me again.’” Timberlake added that his pants during the show had “a real khaki vibe” before promising to “get it right” during future performances.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowers offered the singer a chance at redemption if Pharrell were to return to D.C. for Something in the Water.

Although Timberlake may have botched the dance, “Beat Ya Feet” is a dance style in D.C.’s go-go scene, popular during the ’90s and early-2000s, first taught by local dancer and choreographer Crazy Legz. The city also has a Beat Ya Feet Academy that teaches go-go culture and dance.