Newly released police body cam footage has revealed a rattled Justin Timberlake complaining about his treatment and attempting to lighten the mood with jokes during his driving while intoxicated arrest in June 2024. The Sag Harbor Police Department released the footage showing the tense encounter that occurred after the superstar singer left the historic American Hotel.
The Arrest and Initial Encounter
Timberlake had previously tried unsuccessfully to prevent the footage from being made public, arguing he had been in an acutely vulnerable state during the roadside encounter with law enforcement. The 45-year-old vocalist was handcuffed at the police station as he attempted to balance a respectful demeanor toward officers while downplaying his alcohol consumption that evening.
'I appreciate you boys for doing your job,' said the SexyBack singer to the arresting officers. 'I had one martini and I followed my f***ing friends home.'
Police Observations and Sobriety Tests
An officer explained to the Grammy-winning entertainer that between observations made by police and Timberlake's poor performance during sobriety tests conducted at the scene, the decision was made to place him under arrest. A dejected Timberlake responded, 'You boys are treating me like a criminal.'
Timberlake, who had been in his 2025 BMW X7 when pulled over, appeared to try to lighten the mood with officers. Referring to paperwork filed by police that had 'white' listed as his race, Timberlake asked, 'White?' in jest before laughing and clarifying he had been joking.
Confusion During Testing
In separate footage released by authorities, Timberlake appeared confused and nervous by the instructions for the sobriety tests officers had him perform. 'These are, like, hard tests,' Timberlake said. 'My heart's racing.'
When asked if he was visiting the Hamptons, the *NSYNC alum told the officer, 'Yeah, I'm on tour - I'm on a world tour. It's hard to explain ... I'm Justin Timberlake.'
Custody and Legal Resolution
Timberlake was eventually handcuffed and placed into custody after he refused to take a breathalyzer test. The What Goes Around... Comes Around vocalist ultimately reached a plea deal on September 13, 2024, less than three months after the initial incident.
Public Statement and Reflection
Timberlake subsequently made a statement condemning drunken driving after accepting a plea deal to driving while impaired. 'I try to hold myself to a very high standard, for myself, and this was not that,' Timberlake told reporters outside the court. 'Even if you've had one drink, don't get behind the wheel of a car - there's so many alternatives.'
Some of those alternatives Timberlake mentioned included contacting a friend, hailing a taxi cab, or using travel apps such as Uber. He concluded by saying, 'This is a mistake that I made, but I'm hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.'
Timberlake is father to sons Silas, 10, and Phineas, five, with wife Jessica Biel, 44. The released footage provides a rare glimpse into how celebrities navigate police encounters and the legal consequences that follow such incidents.
