Pop icon Justin Timberlake found himself in hot water this week after being arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated in the Hamptons, New York’s swanky seaside enclave for the elite.
The incident occurred in Sag Harbor, where local police stopped Timberlake’s vehicle on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was subsequently booked and released early Tuesday morning, with a court appearance scheduled for later that day, as reported by ABC News. In New York, first-time offenders of drunk driving can face penalties including fines from $1,000 to $2,500, up to a year in jail, and a mandatory one-year revocation of their driver’s license.
Justin Timberlake, age 43, is in the midst of his “Forget Tomorrow World Tour,” which will see him perform next in Chicago before heading to Kansas City, Missouri, in December. Amidst this legal hiccup, he is set to dazzle fans at two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City next week. This tour follows the release of his sixth studio album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” which has garnered favorable reviews from both critics and fans.
JUST IN: Justin Timberlake's mugshot has been released after he was arrested for drunk driving.
Officers say “his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath."
After being pulled over, Timberlake reportedly told cops:… pic.twitter.com/b4Rvfo5xbZ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 18, 2024
Despite his current legal challenges, Timberlake has largely managed to steer clear of legal troubles throughout his adult life. However, he hasn’t been completely immune to controversy. In the early 2000s, Timberlake and Britney Spears were a pop culture phenomenon, dubbed the king and queen of pop, until their high-profile breakup amidst allegations of infidelity.
Reflecting on the relationship years later in an interview with Barbara Walters, Timberlake remarked, “We’re not perfect. I don’t judge anybody. It was a very intense relationship, that’s for sure.” Spears later accused him in her memoir of distancing himself during their relationship and pressuring her on personal matters.
Further controversy followed in 2004 when Timberlake performed with Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl halftime show, an event that turned scandalous when he accidentally exposed Jackson’s breast during the performance. The incident, infamously known as “Nipplegate,” caused a significant backlash for both artists. The 2017 #MeToo movement prompted a reevaluation of the incident, leading Timberlake to issue an apology in 2018, claiming he had made peace with Jackson, according to Us Weekly.
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The recent arrest adds another chapter to Timberlake’s complex public narrative, intertwining moments of triumph in his career with personal and legal setbacks.