Justin Bieber sings 'Cry Me a River' after reported breakup

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez in happier days.

By Mikael Wood

Nov. 12, 2012 4:09 PM PT

There are, of course, many reasons to be saddened by reports of the apparent breakup of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, which hit the Internet over the weekend.

We here at Pop & Hiss were most bummed to consider that Nicki Minaj may never get the chance to again rhyme “wiener” with “Selena,” as she does in her guest verse on Bieber’s current single, “Beauty and a Beat.” Gone too soon, people -- gone too soon.

Yet while we were crying into our Belie-beers, the teen idol himself was busy sending cryptic messages about the breakup from the stage of Boston’s TD Garden. That’s where Bieber performed Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” during a concert Saturday night. (Watch a clip below.)

A standout from Timberlake’s 2002 solo debut, “Justified,” the Timbaland-produced “Cry Me a River” has long been thought to reflect Timberlake’s feelings about his relationship with Britney Spears; it was accompanied by a supremely creepy music video in which Timberlake spies on a Spears lookalike in the shower.

Sour grapes, then? Not according to Bieber.

“Thank u Boston. focused on the positive,” he tweeted after the show Saturday. “#30MillionBeliebers with me. Im never leaving u because u r always there 4 me. love u. Night.”