Justin Timberlake recently shared a story about being straightforwardly turned down by pop star Beyonce.
At the age of 43, Timberlake, known for hits like SexyBack, was a guest host on Saturday Night Live in 2008 when he tried to get Beyonce to participate in a sketch for the show.
Despite initially saying no, Beyonce eventually agreed after some convincing from SNL cast members Andy Samberg and Bobby Moynihan.
Justin Timberlake recalls, per Billboard, “(Andy) said Bobby Moynihan has this great idea for a sketch about you, me, and him being Beyoncé’s background dancers that never made the cut.
“I was like ‘full leotard’? And he’s like, ‘yeah.’ I was like, ‘This is too funny. We have to do this.'”
However, convincing Destiny’s Child icon Beyonce to take part proved to be a delicate process – with Timberlake going to extremes to win her over.
He recalled, “She was very polite about it, but she was very hesitant. And when I say hesitant, I mean like, she was not having it.
“I’m like: Does she know how funny this is gonna be? How beloved this whole moment will be?
“I put the leotard and the heels and the hose on and everything, and put a robe on. I walked and knocked on her door, I threw the robe down and put my hands on my hips and she was like, ‘No you didn’t!'”
The sketch they collaborated on became one of the most memorable moments in SNL history.
Timberlake’s account of this experience was featured in a documentary called Ladies & Gentleman… 50 Years of SNL Music that aired on NBC.
