Justin Timberlake Photo by: Kevin Mazur / WireImage
Justin a Gentleman When it Comes to Britney
When it comes to talking about his exes, Justin Timberlake is a model of diplomacy.

Asked what he thinks about Britney Spears's recent ups and downs, the singer, 26, demurs, telling Details in its April issue, "We had our thing, and it's over."

And he won't speak at all about Cameron Diaz, from whom he split in January after nearly four years together.

Instead, he slams the tabloids that, he says, "create soap operas out of people's lives." He won't take part in the speculation about the people in his life: "I would never say anything bad about anyone," he says. "I love a lot of those people."

When it comes to discussing his music, however, Timberlake is more forthcoming.

About his first solo album, Justified, he says: "I tried so hard to be an R&B artist, and it was pop album of the year, and I was like, 'F---. That's the last thing I wanted.' But I was like, 'So everyone considers me a pop artist? Well, f--- it. I'm going to do whatever I want to do."

Justin Timberlake a Gentleman When It Comes to Britney| Justin Timberlake
One thing he wishes he hadn't done, he admits, was "My Grammy Moment" during the February awards show, when a contest winner got to perform alongside him.

Though he wanted to cancel the appearance, Timberlake says, he didn't, "Because I'm the nice guy who follows through on the things he commits to. But I don't know if I'll be going through that sort of thing again. I feel like the Grammys used me for ratings. And look at it – they were up 18 percent."
This week's cover

On Newsstands Now!

JOSH & FERGIE: ROCKED BY SCANDAL

Did he cheat with a stripper?

Married less than a year, the couple denies an Atlanta woman’s claims that she and Josh had a fling
Note that this week’s cover of PEOPLE may differ regionally

Save $1.00 off this week's issue. Click here for coupon