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(NewsNation) — Unless you’ve been hiding in a Siberian cave for the past week, you may have heard about Justin Timberlake’s arrest for DWI in the Hamptons.
The arrest spawned countless articles, claiming he had a “real drinking problem” for years, was on a “boozy spiral”, questions of “where it all went wrong?”, reports allegedly drug use and did his his wife Jessica Biel (who was, understandably, “not happy” with the arrest) cut her hair because she was sending a message to her man?
And of course, everyone brought up the the 2019 incident where Timberlake held hands with co-star Alisha Wainwright (something he later blamed on “excessive drinking”).
But friends of his are furious that Timberlake, who was in the Hamptons hanging out with pals while on a break from his “Forget Tomorrow” world tour, is being painted in such a booze-soaked light.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 14: Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake are seen on March 14, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Perception/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) -
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake
attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images) -
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: (L-R) Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake attend Justin Timberlake’s ‘EVERYTHING I THOUGHT IT WAS’ Album Release Party at Dan Tana’s on March 14, 2024 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Justin Timberlake) -
Justin Timberlake in a mugshot after a DWI arrest Monday, June 17. (Sag Harbor Police Department)
“Come on,” a friend said. “He was with friends having dinner. The cops that were watching him/escorting him left (Timberlake) when he left the restaurant. A young kid officer pulled him over and didn’t know who he was … a typical Hamptons overzealous cop… made him do a sobriety test which he agreed to do and passed with no problem and then the guy continued to hassle him and wanted him to do a breathalyzer, and Justin smartly and rightfully said no.” (To be fair, denying a breathalyzer if you have consumed any alcohol of any amount is what any lawyer will tell you to do).
The friend added: “He’s a good guy and sadly isn’t allowed to even enjoy his life without people attacking him. I have never seen him drink too much.”
The comment from the friend brings up several questions, including:
- Was security with Timberlake that evening?
- Was the security detail made up of off-duty cops? (Note: it is natural for a star like Timberlake to have security at all times, even in the Hamptons. It is also natural for off-duty cops to work local security detail).
- If there was security, why did they let him drive if Timberlake was as “wasted” as witnesses told the New York Post?
- Did Timberlake pass the sobriety tests?
- When will we see the bodycam video of it?
Timberlake’s rep didn’t return emails.
Questions aside, while Timberlake has been known to enjoy an adult beverage or some marijuana he is not exactly an addict. Timberlake’s attorney, Edward Burke Jr. released a statement saying, “Mr. Burke looks forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake against these allegations. He will have a lot to say at the appropriate time. He is currently awaiting full discovery from the DA’s office.”
And just so we’re clear: While Timberlake should not have driven that night, I have never heard he had a problem with alcohol (I have been covering him since his *NSYNC days). He may like to let loose every now and then, but not to an excessive degree.
I am looking forward to the discovery in this case.
Meanwhile, Timberlake is expected to continue his tour in Chicago this weekend before hitting New York City next week.