Shortly after midnight on June 18, a 2025 gray BMW was seen in Sag Harbor, Long Island, going through a stop sign and failing to stay in its proper lane. The car was being driven by the man of the woods, a.k.a. Justin Timberlake, who was on his way home from American Hotel, a popular hotel and restaurant in the area. The officer who pulled Timberlake over claimed that “his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests,” according to a criminal complaint against him. Timberlake was arrested and ultimately charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. His mug shot immediately went viral and even became a piece of art in Sag Harbor.
Timberlake, who allegedly refused to take a breath test, was arraigned later that day and released, according to the Associated Press. Following his release, Timberlake played two nights at Madison Square Garden as part of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, his first tour in five years. On Friday, July 26, Timberlake’s legal team will be back in the Hamptons — virtually — for a conference. So far, relentless media coverage has broken down every detail of the night (he allegedly drank a Vesper; he was hanging with Jimmy Fallon; and his wife, actress Jessica Biel, is being supportive throughout this process), but what else do you need to know about the summer’s hottest Hamptons-related gossip (other than the poop incident)? Here are all the details.
What has Timberlake said about the incident?
It depends what you mean by said. Timberlake allegedly told the arresting officer that he drank one martini and was following several friends home, per court documents cited by AP. Timberlake’s job was reportedly described as a “professional” on court papers, and he allegedly stated that he was “self-employed.” He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, per NBC New York.
Timberlake seemed to refer to his arrest on several U.S. tour stops. “We’ve been together through ups and downs, lefts and rights. It’s been a tough week, but you’re here and I’m here, and nothing can change this moment right now,” Timberlake said during his June 21 show at Chicago’s United Center in video posted to X. “I know sometimes I’m hard to love, but you keep on loving me, and I love you right back … thank you so much!”
At a Boston concert on June 29, Timberlake seemingly joked about the arrest onstage, asking fans, “So, uh, is there anyone here tonight that is driving?” Seconds later, he said, “I’m just kidding!” Funny …
Has Timberlake’s fame helped or hurt him during this ordeal?
Let’s be real: Wealthy white dudes tend to have a better time with the criminal justice system. And fame doesn’t exactly hurt them, either. That being said, Timberlake’s star status didn’t do much for him during the arrest. Instead, it actually made for some embarrassing gossip. Per the New York Post, the arresting officer “was so young that he didn’t even know” who Timberlake was. “He didn’t recognize him or his name.” Another source told the newspaper, “Justin said under his breath, ‘This is going to ruin the tour.’ The cop replied, ‘What tour?’ Justin said, ‘The world tour.’”
When is Timberlake back in court?
Unclear. Prosecutors and Timberlake’s legal team will be in court on July 26 for a conference. He’s not expected to be there in person or via video. After Timberlake was arrested, his lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., told Patch, “I look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake on these allegations … I will have a lot to say at the appropriate time but am currently awaiting full discovery from the district attorney’s office.”
Wait, did Timberlake’s arrest affect his world tour?
Nope! He’s actually scheduled to perform in Krakow, Poland, on July 26. So dziękuję, I guess?
Just curious: Has Britney Spears said anything about Timberlake’s troubles?
Recall that Spears and Timberlake dated between 1999 and 2002 and that their relationship was super rocky — reportedly rife with allegations of cheating. Spears also claimed in her memoir, The Woman in Me, that she had an abortion in large part because Timberlake “was so sure that he didn’t want to be a father.” So it’s not exactly surprising that Spears shared what has been described as a “cryptic” pic several hours after Timberlake was busted. “It’s the little things you know ????????!!!” Spears posted with a photo of a flower-and-cherry-garnished bev. We don’t know whether Spears’s drink was a cocktail or a juice. What we do know: We too would raise a glass if a “toxic” ex got in trouble. Because, brat.
