BONTIDA, Romania, July 23, 2025 – Pop superstar Justin Timberlake has come under fire following his headlining performance at the Electric Castle Festival in Bontida, Romania, with fans and critics alike slamming the singer for what many described as a low-energy and disengaged set. The performance, part of Timberlake’s ongoing Forget Tomorrow World Tour, sparked widespread criticism online, with viral TikTok videos amplifying fans’ disappointment.
A video of Timberlake performing his hit song “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” went viral, amassing over 1.5 million views on TikTok, as fans pointed out that the 44-year-old singer sang only a handful of lyrics while relying heavily on the audience to carry the song. In the clip, Timberlake, performing in the rain, is seen pulling up his jacket hood and gesturing to the crowd to sing, while his minimal vocal and dance efforts left attendees feeling shortchanged. One fan’s caption read, “When you pay for a concert but get a mute singer,” with another commenting, “Dude took a day off on stage.”
Romanian singer Amelissa’s scathing review of the show, which garnered over 5 million views, highlighted Timberlake’s late arrival, minimal singing, and abrupt exit from the stage, with some attendees unaware he had left until the lights came on. “You come to my country, I pay a lot of money, it’s raining like s—,” she said in her viral video. “You were late, first of all. And then you sing like five words on each song.” Many fans echoed her sentiments, with hundreds reportedly leaving the show early due to dissatisfaction.
The criticism wasn’t limited to Romania. Fans from Estonia and Lithuania shared similar experiences, describing Timberlake’s performances in those countries as equally lackluster, with comments like, “Same disappointment in Baltic countries. Totally not worth it. He doesn’t respect his fans equally around the world.” Another TikTok user dubbed him “Justin ‘I didn’t know I was supposed to sing at a concert’ Timberlake” after a similar crowd-reliant performance of “Cry Me a River” at Lollapalooza Paris.
The backlash comes amidst a challenging European leg of Timberlake’s tour, which has been marred by prior incidents, including a June 2024 DWI arrest in the U.S. that sparked the viral “What tour?” meme. Additionally, Timberlake faced criticism for a heated exchange with crew members over sound issues during a performance at the Lytham Festival in England earlier this month, further fueling perceptions of unprofessionalism.Despite the negative feedback, some fans defended Timberlake, noting the difficulties of performing in adverse weather and the pressures of a grueling world tour. One supporter commented, “I don’t blame him for being a bit peeved. He’s trying to entertain his fans that paid money to see him.” However, the overwhelming sentiment on social media, particularly TikTok, has been one of frustration, with comments like, “The audience ft. Justin Timberlake” and calls for refunds gaining traction.
Timberlake’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the Electric Castle performance. As the Forget Tomorrow World Tour nears its conclusion, with a final show scheduled in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 30, the Romania controversy has raised questions about performer fatigue and the expectations of global audiences.The incident underscores the challenges artists face in maintaining consistent energy across extensive tours, but for many Romanian fans, Timberlake’s lackluster showing fell far short of the high-energy spectacle they had anticipated from the Grammy-winning artist.
