Bodycam video footage of Justin Timberlake’s June 2024 DWI arrest on Long Island was released to the media Friday.
The footage was partially redacted.
What the video shows
In the video, Timberlake is seen in the driver’s seat of the vehicle as he speaks to a police officer.
“So the reason for your stop is ’cause of, you’re veering off to the left and then you’re not stopping at the stop signs,” the officer says.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Timberlake says.
Timberlake tells the officer it’s a rental vehicle that he’s using for a couple of days.
“I’m on tour,” he says.
Sag Harbor Police Dept.
“What are you doing?” the officer says.
“I’m on a world tour,” Timberlake says.
“A what?” the officer asks.
“A world tour,” Timberlake says.
“Doing what?” the officer asks.
“Um, hard to explain. Um, a world tour… I’m Justin Timberlake, I’m,” Timberlake says.
“What’s your name?” the officer asks.
“Justin Timberlake,” Timberlake says.
The officer then asks for Timberlake’s license.
Timberlake’s sobriety test
The footage then shows officers giving Timberlake a sobriety test.
“Guys, guys, I’m just following my friends back to my house. I’m, I’m not, like, I’m not doing anything. I’m just following my friends back to my house,” Timberlake tells the officers.
An officer then asks Timberlake if he’ll do the tests, and Timberlake responds, “Sure.”
Timberlake tells the officers he’s “a little nervous” and can be seen stumbling as he walks, at times appearing frustrated by the exam.
“By the way, these are, like, these are like really hard tests,” he says.
Timberlake can also be seen declining to take a breathalyzer test. The officer then tells Timberlake he’s under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and tells him to turn around.
“I’m just following my friends home. I’m, I’m, I’m,” Timberlake says.
The officer again tells Timberlake to turn around and handcuffs him. The video also shows Timberlake being placed in the backseat of a police vehicle.
The bodycam video also shows officers talking to a woman who was with Timberlake at the time, saying he is under arrest but she is free to go.
“Justin Timberlake’s under arrest? Can you help me, please? Can we do anything? Can you please stop it? I’ll do anything,” she says.
Timberlake’s DWI arrest
Timberlake’s legal team previously sued the Village of Sag Harbor to prevent the release, claiming it showed the pop star “in an acutely vulnerable state” and “would cause severe and irreparable harm” to his reputation. The lawsuit was filed in response to a Freedom of Information Law request.
Now, Timberlake’s legal team and the Village of Sag Harbor have come to an agreement on the release of the footage with redactions, court records show.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Joseph Farneti wrote that the release with redactions “does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
There are some eight hours of footage of Timberlake’s traffic stop and arrest.
“We’re trying to be as transparent as can be with this footage,” Sag Harbor Mayor Thomas Gardella previously told the Associated Press, one of the media outlets that requested the video be released.
Timberlake, 45, ultimately pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired, a lesser charge. He was sentenced to a fine and community service, and made a public safety announcement.
“This is a mistake that I’ve made, but I’m hoping whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have. And like I said, even one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” Timberlake said at the time.
