NEW YORK — Justin Timberlake found himself in a precarious situation when he was stopped by police in New York’s Hamptons in 2024 under suspicion of driving under the influence. Released video footage on Friday shows the pop sensation struggling with field sobriety tests, including walking a straight line and balancing on one leg.
During the interaction with officers, Timberlake candidly admitted, “These are like really hard tests,” acknowledging the difficulty he faced with the tasks.
The incident unfolded in the heart of Sag Harbor, where police claimed Timberlake had run a stop sign, drifted out of his lane, and emerged from his BMW with the scent of alcohol lingering. This event took place in June, and the footage, spanning nearly eight hours, captures the entire encounter.
Timberlake, who transitioned from NSYNC fame to a solo music and acting career, told officers he had consumed just one martini. He mentioned he was trying to follow friends home in the Hamptons, a series of upscale beach communities located approximately 100 miles east of New York City.
When questioned about his presence in the area, Timberlake responded, “I’m on a world tour.” This prompted the officer to inquire further with a simple, “Doing what?” suggesting a mix of curiosity and procedural questioning.
“Doing what?” the officer asks.
“Hard to explain,” Timberlake says.
After stammering a bit, he says “World tour. I’m Justin Timberlake.”
The officer eventually responds: “You are Justin Timberlake? Do you have a license with you?”
Timberlake, who ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, is asked by officers to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line on the road and lift one leg. At times he seems flustered listening to the instructions. He apologizes to officers and tells them his heart is racing.
“I’m a little nervous,” Timberlake says at one point.
In the back seat of the police car, he asks: “Why are you arresting me?”
Back at the police station, Timberlake is informed he will be held overnight, to which he says, “I’m going to be here all night? You guys are wild, man.”
He asks the officer to keep the light on in the cell as they lock the door.
The release by Sag Harbor Police comes after the village and Timberlake’s lawyers agreed to disclose a redacted version of the footage. The Associated Press was among several media outlets that filed a records request seeking the release of the video.
Timberlake’s lawyers had sued to block the release of the video, arguing it would “devastate” Timberlake’s privacy by revealing “intimate, highly personal, and sensitive details.” They also said it would cause “severe and irreparable harm” to his reputation by subjecting him to “public ridicule and harassment.”
But in a joint filing with the village Friday, Timberlake’s lawyers acknowledged the video “does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under” the state’s public information law and agreed to its release.
Timberlake’s lawyers and representatives didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment Friday.
Sag Harbor officials, in a statement provided by the village’s lawyer, Vincent Toomey, said they are pleased the matter was resolved and they were able to comply with state public records law.
“From the beginning of this matter, after Mr. Timberlake’s arrest, the Village has attempted to comply with the mandates of the Freedom of Information Law,” the statement reads. “As would be true in any case involving records or video footage from our Police Department, such material is reviewed and redacted to address public and officer safety concerns as well as personal privacy considerations.”
Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving in September 2024.
The Tennessee native agreed to give a public safety announcement against the perils of drunken driving as part of the plea deal that knocked down his initial misdemeanor charge to a noncriminal traffic violation.
He was also sentenced to a $500 fine, 25 hours of community service and a 90-day suspension of his license.
Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
