Lyme disease — a stealthy, tick-borne illness — is no longer a silent struggle, especially among Hollywood’s elite. Justin Timberlake, Bella Hadid, Shania Twain, and even tech giant Alexis Ohanian are among the growing list of stars who have revealed their painful and often misunderstood battles with Lyme.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease every year. Symptoms can range from flu-like fatigue and rash to facial paralysis, arthritis, and even heart complications. For celebrities constantly in the spotlight, managing such an illness while performing or filming is a challenge few can imagine.

Massive nerve pain or just crazy fatigue” — Justin Timberlake’s confession shocks fans

On July 31, 2025, Justin Timberlake took to social media to open up about his experience with Lyme disease while on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour. He revealed he was battling “a massive amount of nerve pain” and “crazy fatigue,” all while performing on stage across the globe.

I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out,” he wrote. “I’m so glad I kept going.

Timberlake, who had been raised to keep health matters private, explained why he decided to speak up:

Sharing all of this with the hope that we can all find a way to be more connected. I’d like to do my part to help others experiencing this disease too.

His fans praised his transparency, with many calling him an inspiration for pushing through such an exhausting illness.

Bella Hadid and Anwar Hadid: The Hadid siblings’ ongoing battle with Lyme

Supermodel Bella Hadid and her brother Anwar Hadid have both spoken about their long-term struggles with Lyme. Diagnosed in their teens, the siblings say the disease has impacted not just their careers but also their day-to-day lives.

In past interviews, Bella mentioned how the illness has affected her ability to work:

I know what it feels like to not want to get out of bed from bone pain and exhaustion,” she once told Vogue.

Their mother, Yolanda Hadid, has also suffered from Lyme, making it a painful family affair.

Alexis Ohanian: A surprise diagnosis with no symptoms

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband to tennis star Serena Williams, surprised followers in July 2024 with a revelation on

Wild. No symptoms, thankfully, but gonna treat,” he wrote. “I spend so little time in the wilderness/northeast this was quite a surprise.

His diagnosis came after a routine full-body scan. Despite the lack of symptoms, he took the diagnosis seriously and began immediate treatment.

Bethenny Frankel: New diagnosis, public vulnerability

The Real Housewives of New York City alum Bethenny Frankel shared her diagnosis with Lyme through an Instagram Story in July 2024. She posted her blood test results and wrote:

Please send success stories of healing from Lyme… It’s a new infection, not chronic.

She added a heartfelt apology to friends she had canceled on during the past few months, saying, “I was feeling like s—.”

“It’s affected my voice”: One singer puts career on hold

In September 2023, an unnamed pop singer shared her heartbreaking journey with Lyme, revealing that the disease had affected her physically and emotionally — particularly her ability to sing.

Singing is the thing I love most in this world, and my voice is my vessel for expression,” she wrote. “This has won on my soul in a way that’s hard to even put words to.

She announced a break from her music career to focus on treatment and recovery, urging fans to understand the invisible toll the illness takes.

Shania Twain: Another iconic voice touched by Lyme

Shania Twain also revealed in past years that Lyme disease once jeopardized her ability to sing. She developed dysphonia, a vocal cord disorder, as a complication. It took years of therapy, treatment, and vocal training for the country-pop queen to make a comeback.

I thought I’d lost my voice forever,” she once shared in an interview with Rolling Stone.

The bigger conversation: Lyme isn’t rare anymore — and neither is stigma

For decades, Lyme disease has remained one of the most misunderstood illnesses — often dismissed or misdiagnosed. With influential names like Timberlake, Hadid, and Twain stepping forward, the conversation is shifting.

These celebrity accounts highlight how Lyme can quietly devastate lives — whether you’re a world-touring singer, a supermodel, or a tech entrepreneur. Their stories serve not just as cautionary tales but as a rallying call to take this disease seriously and push for better diagnostics, awareness, and empathy.

As Justin Timberlake put it:

Living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically… but I’m trying to be more transparent so that it isn’t misinterpreted.