In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, pop music sensation Justin Timberlake found himself in hot water in a village tucked away inside New York’s Hamptons. The police report revealed that Timberlake was charged with driving under the intoxication after running a stop sign and swerving out of his lane, in the elite seaside vacation hotspot.
Driving a 2025 model BMW through Sag Harbor at around half past midnight, the former boy band member and acclaimed actor drew the attention of a patrolling officer. After stopping him, the officer allegedly concluded that Timberlake was inebriated.
Court documents describe Timberlake’s condition in vivid detail, painting a picture of a man who was clearly intoxicated. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his speech slow and confused, and his balance unsteady. Additionally, the strong smell of alcohol hung in his breath, leading the officer to the conclusion that Timberlake was most probably drunk.
Timberlake, 43, confessed to the officer that he had consumed a single martini while trailing behind some friends on their way home. However, upon his subsequent arrest and transport to the police station in neighboring East Hampton, the pop star reportedly declined to submit to a breath test.
Later that Tuesday morning, the 10-time Grammy winner was finally released from custody without a bond after being arraigned in Sag Harbor. He now faces a misdemeanor for driving while intoxicated, with his court date scheduled for July 26, as stated by the Suffolk County district attorney’s office.
Edward Burke Jr., Timberlake’s legal representative from the local area, detached himself from commenting on Tuesday, only confirming that Timberlake is not required to appear personally for his next court hearing. Timberlake’s public relations team in California was repeatedly unavailable for comment.
Following the arrest, the village’s charming Main Street was flooded by a steady flow of spectators, turning the brick municipal building into a spontaneous tourist attraction. Music legend Billy Joel, who resides in Sag Harbor, also joined the stream of onlookers in front of the American Hotel—a well-known hotel and restaurant situated next to the courthouse.
Despite Timberlake’s current predicament, he remains an undisputed music icon. The artist cut his teeth as a Disney Mouseketeer alongside Britney Spears, later rising to international fame as a member of the boy band NSYNC, before branching out as a solo artist in 2002.
Known for his distinct style encompassing pop and R&B genres, Timberlake has contributed several Grammy-winning hits to the music industry. Some of his best-known tracks include “Cry Me A River,” “SexyBack,” and “What Goes Around…Comes Around,” and more recently “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” In addition to his music career, Timberlake also holds an impressive acting portfolio, having received wide recognition for films like “The Social Network” and “Friends with Benefits.”
Despite achieving commercial success and maintaining a tremendous fanbase, Timberlake’s public image has weathered considerable controversy in the past. The infamous 2004 Super Bowl halftime show incident involving Janet Jackson and the unexpected revelation from Britney Spears’ memoir are just two examples.
Timberlake’s latest album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” was released earlier in March, reminiscent of his signature future funk sound. The pop icon is expected to perform in Chicago on the upcoming Friday and Saturday, followed by his performances at New York’s Madison Square Garden later in June.
The quaint village of Sag Harbor, once a whaling village mentioned in Herman Melville’s classic tale “Moby-Dick”, has been a favored retreat for the rich and famous for decades. The village’s unpretentious charm has drawn a number of renowned personalities and figures, contributing to an ever-changing demographic that has led to local complaints about increasing congestion and changing character. Despite this, Sag Harbor continues to retain its uniquely charming personality amid the evolving Hamptons landscape.
