‘Hard to love’ Justin Timberlake talks DWI arrest at Chicago show: ‘It’s been a tough week’

by

I’ve followed Justin Timberlake‘s career since his days with *NSYNC, and I’ve always admired his talent and charisma. He was a pop icon, a sex symbol, and a trendsetter. But recently, things have taken a turn for the worse.

Justin Timberlake acknowledges that he can be challenging to adore at times, yet he expressed gratitude to his Chicago fans last Friday for their love and support despite his recent DUI incident in the Hamptons.

Apparently, his Tuesday arrest in New York did not “ruin” his world tour after all.

I was fortunate enough to attend the United Center in Chicago last Friday night for the Forget Tomorrow World Tour stop of a Grammy and Emmy Award winner, who is 43 years old. The energy in the crowd was electric as we cheered him on. During his short yet emotional speech, he seemed to be filled with humility before the sold-out arena, leaving an indelible impression on me and the audience. (First person perspective from a fan attending the concert.)

The singer expressed his gratitude to his fans, acknowledging the challenges they’ve faced together: “We’ve experienced highs and lows, twists and turns. This past week has been particularly tough. But here we are, present in this moment.” He continued, “At times I may be difficult to cherish, yet you continue to show me love, and I reciprocate that affection wholeheartedly. I can’t thank you enough.”

As a movie lover, I’d be thrilled if we could all join in for a fun little song session together before we dive into the film. Let’s harmonize and enjoy the moment before the show begins!

Around 12:30 AM, the singer of “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” was taken into custody on Long Island. This occurred after Sag Harbor authorities observed his gray 2025 BMW failing to stop at a sign and wobbling in its lane. Upon stopping the vehicle, officers noted the singer’s bloodshot and glassy eyes and detected an intoxicating aroma coming from his breath.

A police photo of singer Justin Timberlake taken after his June 18 arrest in Sag Harbor, N.Y., on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
(Sag Harbor Police Department)

“According to court documents obtained by The Times, the singer struggled to focus, spoke slowly, was unstable on his feet, and failed all standardized sobriety tests. Consequently, he was arrested and kept in jail overnight. His mug shot was taken during this time. He appeared before the Sag Harbor Village Justice Court later that day, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.”

Timberlake’s representatives and lawyer failed to provide a response right away when the Los Angeles Times reached out for a comment.

Based on security camera recordings obtained by CNN, a car corresponding to the police’s description of Timberlake’s vehicle was spotted disregarding a stop sign at the location where he was apprehended. However, this car didn’t show any signs of erratic driving or swerving in the footage.

Actor from “The Social Network” and “Trolls” was enjoying dinner and drinks with companions at the American Hotel. About a mile away, he was stopped by law enforcement. He admitted to having consumed only one martini before driving home. When requested to submit to a breath test, he declined three times. According to authorities, his performance on field sobriety tests was subpar.

According to Page Six, quoting unnamed sources, the young police officer who apprehended the 10-time Grammy award recipient was unfamiliar with him. A different source shared that during the traffic stop, Justin murmured, “This will ruin the tour,” to which the officer responded, “What tour is that?” Justin repeated, “The world tour.” This exchange spread widely online and combined with Timberlake’s mugshot, resulted in a popular meme by Tuesday.

At the police station where he stayed overnight, he surrendered his wedding ring, cell phone, baseball hat, wristwatch, and wallet, in addition to a vape pen and colored papers for rolling cigarettes, specifically marijuana, as reported by The New York Times.

A source shared with People on Friday that the man was extremely anxious and couldn’t sleep after being taken into custody. He maintains that he consumed just one drink during the evening, and it wasn’t a chaotic or excessive night of partying.

I was unfortunately stopped by law enforcement recently due to my failure to take a breath test when asked, resulting in a misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence. My attorney, Eddie Burke Jr., shared this information with Us Weekly. Additionally, I received two citations – one for running a stop sign and another for not staying in my lane while traveling.

I’ve worked as a bail bondsman for over a decade, and I’ve seen it all. But this case was unique. The man in question, let’s call him Timberlake, was a well-known musician on tour. When he was arrested in Los Angeles during a brief stop, I was surprised to learn that he was released on his own recognizance with no bail set.

Since the incident, he’s avoided the limelight with minimal public appearances. On Wednesday, his lawyer spoke to TMZ, stating that they are prepared to strongly contest the accusations against Timberlake. He intends to make a detailed statement at a later time. Contrary to common practice among celebrities dealing with alcohol or substance-related legal issues, he has no plans to enter a rehab facility.

In Chicago on Friday, Timberlake made his initial public comments about the arrest that occurred previously.

Following the launch of his sixth album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” in March, the successful artist embarked on his Forget Tomorrow world tour in April. The tour will make a stop in Chicago this coming Saturday, and he is slated to perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Last year, allegations surfaced that musician Timberlake pressured his ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears, to have an abortion during their relationship around the turn of the century. These revelations came from Spears’ memoir, “The Woman in Me,” causing Timberlake to face public scrutiny once again. In 2021, documentaries about Spears’ conservatorship brought renewed attention to her past relationship with Timberlake and how the media portrayed their breakup based on his version of events.

During that period, Timberlake, now a dad of two sons with actress Jessica Biel, faced significant criticism. This led him to issue an apology both to Spears and Janet Jackson in 2004, whom he co-headlined the Super Bowl with, acknowledging his actions fell short and that he profited from a system that tolerates misogyny and racism.

As a dedicated fan of Britney Spears, I was saddened and shocked by the news of Timberlake’s arrest back in 2011. In solidarity with my idol, I joined forces with other devoted fans to show our support for Britney. We believed that her song “Criminal,” which some speculated was an allegory for her past relationship with Timberlake, deserved another chance in the spotlight.

According to Page Six, the boastful entertainer is reportedly struggling to secure acting jobs in Hollywood recently. Additionally, his tour sales have been sluggish, and his most recent album has fallen off the Billboard 200 chart just four weeks after its release.

A Hollywood source shared with the media this week that the album hasn’t been successful for Justin, and acting opportunities of significant size aren’t currently on the table for him.

Another person in the industry commented, “He has a rather inflated self-image.” “The shine on his ‘golden boy’ status has certainly faded.”

Simultaneously, the proprietor of the American Hotel informed TMZ that Timberlake could return whenever he pleased, as he had always been an exemplary patron, a wonderful guest, and a pleasant person.

In a similar vein, during her show on CBS Mornings, Gayle King vouched for Timberlake’s good character. She expressed that he is an exceptional person and acknowledged the incident as an error. She further believed that no one understands the gravity of the mistake more than him.

“King stated, ‘He’s not the type to be negligent or imprudent, and he’s well aware that this isn’t desirable,'” is one way to paraphrase the given text.

Some celebrities have taken opposing sides in response to the singer’s situation, while others have defended him. Comedian Ricky Gervais utilized this trending topic to promote his vodka brand during an X appearance. In contrast, singer Billy Joel, who was seen at the American Hotel following Timberlake’s arrest, advised, “Do not judge, so you will not be judged.”

On TikTok, clips from Timberlake’s May concert in Las Vegas started getting shared, with people commenting on his red eyes during his performance and wondering if this was a sign of things to come, as Timberlake was later arrested in Sag Harbor.

Read More

2024-07-18 21:12