ByVictoria Bekiempis,
who writes about courts and crime for Vulture and other outlets
The man of the hour.
Photo: Sag Harbor Police Department/Getty Images
Justin Timberlake is no longer facing a DWI. The musician pleaded guilty to a lesser offenseon September 13. “I’m hoping that whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake,” he said outside court. “I know that I certainly have.”
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.
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)?
What consequences is Timberlake facing?
Not a DWI charge anymore. Timberlake pleaded guilty to a traffic violation during a September 13 hearing, NBC reported.The count was driving while ability impaired, which is not a criminal offense. Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace hit Timberlake with a $300 to $500 fine, along with 25 to 40 hours of community service.
However, Timberlake still won’t be driving himself home from the bar again anytime soon. His license will be suspended in New York for a full year, TMZ also reported. Irace had suspended Timberlake’s license in New York during an August 2 hearing, NBC News reported, because Timberlake turned down a breathalyzer test when he was pulled over.
Timberlake’s attorney Edward Burke Jr. got in some trouble during the August 2 hearing too. Irace warned Burke about his “irresponsible” comments to the media about the case, saying it “comes off as an attempt to poison the case before it even begins.” It’s unclear what comments Irace was referring to, but he threatened a gag order against Burke if they continue.
What has Timberlake said about the incident?
After his plea deal, Timberlake made a two-and-a-half-minute statement to the media, saying he made “a mistake” and thanking Sag Harbor for its cooperation. “Many of you have probably been covering me for a lot of my life, and as you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard for myself,” Timberlake said, per MSNBC. “And this was not that.” He went on to encourage fans not to drive after drinking, “even if you’ve had one drink.”
Timberlake previously 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 …
During his arrest, Timberlake allegedly told the 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 again pleaded not guilty during an August 2 hearing, where he only spoke twice, to say “yes” to the judge, CNN reported.
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?
The plea deal will become official when Irace signs off during the hearing on September 13. After Timberlake was arrested, his lawyer, Burke, 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 ruin the world tour?
Still no! He’s currently on a break after finishing his European dates, with his (aptly named) Forget Tomorrow World Tour restarting September 28 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Just don’t expect him to drive himself to the show. Timberlake previously video-called into his last hearing from Antwerp, Belgium, where he had shows at the time. And he should be able to schedule those 25 to 40 hours of community service around his shows.
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.
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