Pop star Justin Timberlake was charged with drunken driving early Tuesday in the Hamptons village of Sag Harbor, New York. Police stated that Timberlake ran a stop sign and veered out of his lane while driving a 2025 BMW around 12:30 a.m.
According to court documents, Timberlake appeared intoxicated with bloodshot and glassy eyes, a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, slow speech, unsteady footing, and poor performance on all field sobriety tests. Timberlake, 43, admitted to having one martini and said he was following friends home. After being arrested and taken to a police station in East Hampton, he refused a breath test. The court documents listed his occupation as “professional” and “self-employed.”
The 10-time Grammy winner was released without bond after being arraigned in Sag Harbor and charged with a misdemeanor for driving while intoxicated. His next court date is set for July 26, as stated by the Suffolk County district attorney’s office. Timberlake’s lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., confirmed the singer does not need to appear in person for his next court date, but Timberlake’s representatives in California did not respond to requests for comment.
Timberlake’s arrest drew curiosity seekers to the village’s Main Street, with many taking photos outside the municipal building. Music legend Billy Joel, who owns a home in Sag Harbor, commented briefly to WPIX, saying, “Judge not lest ye be judged,” but declined to discuss Timberlake’s arrest.
Timberlake, who started his career as a Disney Mouseketeer alongside future girlfriend Britney Spears, rose to fame with the boy band NSYNC. He launched a successful solo career in 2002 with hits like “Cry Me A River,” “SexyBack,” “What Goes Around…Comes Around,” and “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” He has performed at multiple Super Bowl halftime shows, including the controversial 2004 show with Janet Jackson.
Timberlake has also pursued acting, earning acclaim in films such as “The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits,” and winning four Primetime Emmy Awards. Recently, he made headlines due to Britney Spears’ memoir, “The Woman in Me,” which detailed their past relationship. In March, he released “Everything I Thought It Was,” his first album in six years.
Timberlake is scheduled to perform in Chicago on Friday and Saturday, followed by shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 25 and 26.
Sag Harbor, a former whaling village mentioned in Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick,” is part of the Hamptons, known for attracting the rich and famous. The village has a more down-to-earth reputation compared to its oceanfront neighbors and has been home to prominent figures like Billy Joel, Don Lemon, John Steinbeck, Betty Friedan, Colson Whitehead, and Lanford Wilson. Over the years, Sag Harbor has become a destination for celebrities, with upscale restaurants and boutiques. However, the village’s transformation has led to complaints from some longtime residents about traffic, crowds, and a changing character.
