Justin Beiber, Justin Timberlake, Bella Hadid
Justin Timberlake recently revealed that he has been diagnosed with Lyme disease. The singer opened up about struggling with the disease while he was on his two-year-long tour, sharing his struggles during performances. He complained of pain in his nerves, fatigue and sickness. But before Timberlake, several other celebrities have opened up about their struggle with Lyme disease.
Justin Timberlake took to Instagram on August 1, 2025, to share his diagnosis. He wrote, "Among other things, 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. If you've experienced this disease or know someone who has - then you're aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically. When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure. But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness."
Mother and daughter, Yolanda and Bella Hadid, both battled Lyme disease. Yolanda first publicly spoke about it in 2012 and even authored Believe Me about living with Lyme. Bella, on the other hand, has spoken extensively about pain, brain fog, and the long road to recovery. She reportedly went through over 100 days of medical treatment.
Ben Stiller was diagnosed in 2010 after suspecting the disease during a trip to Nantucket, when his knee swelled up. Although he is now symptom-free, he continues to remain vocal about the difficulty of getting properly diagnosed.
In the early 2000s Lyme reportedly damaged singer Shania Twain's vocal cords, forcing her to go on a long hiatus. Luckily, extensive treatment allowed her to return to performing. Her struggle shows how Lyme can impact nerves, muscles, and career longevity.
Alec Baldwin has been experiencing recurring Lyme flare-ups every summer for years. During a 2017 event, he recalled the terrifying flu-like episodes and the fear that the illness could end his life.
Amy Schumer revealed her Lyme diagnosis around 2020, sharing how symptoms like fatigue and brain fog affected her career and daily life. She also advocated for public understanding of this invisible illness.
Avril reportedly contracted the disease from a tick in 2015, causing her extreme fatigue and joint pain, leaving the singer bedridden for months. In 2019, during an interview with USA TODAY, she recalled a particular night during that period, when she lay in bed with her mom, feeling weak and convinced she was dying. Interestingly, that inspired her to write her song Head Above Water. Later, she founded the Avril Lavigne Foundation to support Lyme awareness.
Debbie Gibson was diagnosed in 2013. She described fighting symptoms-from weight loss to erratic nights-while performing. Her story emphasises how Lyme can intertwine with mental health struggles and stigma.
In January 2020, Justin Bieber also revealed on Instagram that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. He shared that his diagnosis of Lyme was accompanied with "a serious case of chronic mono." He wrote, "While a lot of people kept saying Justin Bieber looks like (I'm on) on meth etc. they failed to realize I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease," he wrote, adding, "not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my, skin, brain function, energy, and overall health."
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection which predominantly spreads to humans through the bite of infected ticks, specifically black-legged ticks, or deer ticks. It is the most common tick-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere. Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Usually, a circular red rash (erythema migrans) that may resemble a bull's-eye, fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain add up as the early symptoms.
