When was Ben Stiller diagnosed with Lyme Disease? List of celebrities diagnosed with Lyme Disease amid Justin Timberlake's diagnosis

2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Arrivals - Source: Getty
2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Arrivals - Source: Getty

Singer-songwriter turned actor, Justin Timberlake, broke the news of his Lyme disease diagnosis on July 31, 2025. As per BBC, the Mirrors singer stated that he was "shocked" to learn about his Lyme disease diagnosis, and explained that it was because of this that he felt sick and experienced serious nerve pain while performing on stage.

The Friends with Benefits actor, Timberlake, took to his Instagram and shared a carousel post with a bunch of photos from his world tour, and in the caption, he shared the news of his Lyme disease diagnosis. His Forget Tomorrow world tour, which began in April 2024, concluded on July 30, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Well, it's not only Justin Timberlake who became the victim of this disease, but even American actor and director Ben Stiller also had to endure the difficulties of Lyme disease. As per Business Insider, the Tropic Thunder actor faced a bit of a challenge getting a proper diagnosis at first. Stiller was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2010, according to People.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2011, regarding his Lyme disease diagnosis, Ben Stiller said:

"I got it in Nantucket, Massachusetts, a couple of years ago. My knee became inflamed and they couldn't figure out what it was, then they found out it was Lyme. I'm symptom-free now, but Lyme doesn't ever leave your system. It's a really tough thing."

The Suit & Tie actor, Justin Timberlake, who shared his Lyme disease news on Instagram, wanted to end his world tour early, but he eventually decided to continue. His Instagram post on July 31 read:

"As many of you know, I'm a pretty private person. But as I'm reflecting on the tour and festival tour - I want to tell you a little bit about what's going on with me. 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."

He continued and wrote:

"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."

Timberlake further added:

"Not only did I prove my mental tenacity to myself but, I now have so many special moments with all of you that I will never forget. I was reluctant to talk about this because I was always raised to keep something like this to yourself. But I am trying to be more transparent about my struggles so that they aren’t misinterpreted."

Check out Justin Timberlake's Instagram post below:


Other prominent celebrities who were diagnosed with Lyme disease

F1 Grand Prix of Canada - Qualifying - Source: Getty
F1 Grand Prix of Canada - Qualifying - Source: Getty

Besides Justin Timberlake and Ben Stiller, there are a few other prominent celebrities who were diagnosed with Lyme disease. According to People, some of those celebrities include:

Riley Keough

During a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, Riley Keough shared that she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. The 36-year-old actress confessed that her diagnosis not only affected her day-to-day life, but she also had to opt for surrogacy. Riley explained:

"I can carry children but it felt like the best choice for what I had going on physically with the autoimmune stuff."

While her Vanity Fair interview took place in Sweden, the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough, attended a holistic center where they do:

"All kinds of things that you can’t really do in America yet, like cleaning your blood."

Amy Schumer

The American stand-up comedian and actress, Amy Schumer, first talked about her Lyme disease diagnosis in September 2020 in an Instagram post. She broke the news of her diagnosis in a throwback picture, which she captioned:

"Anyone get LYME this summer? I got it and I'm on doxycycline. I have maybe had it for years. Any advice? Can you have a glass of wine or 2 on it? I know to stay out of the sun. I’m also taking these herbs from cape cod called lyme-2. I also want to say that I feel good and am excited to get rid of it."

Check out Amy Schumer's Instagram post below:


Justin Bieber

According to People, Justin Bieber shared his Lyme diagnosis in 2020. The pop star took to Instagram and wrote:

"While a lot of people kept saying Justin Bieber looks like s---, on meth etc. they failed to realize I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease. It's been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever."

Avril Lavigne

The Canadian singer-songwriter, Avril Lavigne, in a 2015 interview with People for her cover story, talked about suffering from the disease. She was in bed for five months and believed the disease was transmitted in 2014 by a tick. Lavigne, who runs a foundation that raises money and awareness for Lyme disease, in a 2019 story for People, said:

"It gave me a purpose and made me find myself all over again. When you go through something like that, you realize how fulfilling simple things are - things I could do anymore, like being able to get up in the morning and go to the kitchen and grab a cup of coffee. It taught me patience; it taught me being more present. That was a beautiful lesson."

Alec Baldwin

The Academy Award-nominated actor Alec Baldwin, at the Bay Area Lyme Foundation's gala, LymeAid, in 2017, opened up about his struggle with the disease. Baldwin said:

"I really thought this is it, I'm not going to live. I was alone, I wasn't married at the time, I was divorced from my first wife. I was lying in bed saying, 'I'm going to die of Lyme disease,' in my bed and 'I hope someone finds me and I'm not here for too long.'"

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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala