A rattled Justin Timberlake was seen in newly-released police body cam footage complaining about how he was being treated, and attempting to lighten the mood in the room with an awkward joke.
Authorities with the Sag Harbor Police Department released body cam footage from the superstar singer’s June 18, 2024 driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrest after leaving the historic American Hotel.
Timberlake had previously tried in vain to stop the footage from being released publicly, saying he had been ‘in an acutely vulnerable state during a roadside encounter with law enforcement.’
The 45-year-old vocalist was handcuffed at the police station as he tried to balance a respectful demeanor towards officers while downplaying his alcohol consumption that evening.
‘I appreciate you boys for doing your job,’ said the SexyBack singer. ‘I had one martini and I followed my f***ing friends home.’
An officer explained to the Grammy-winning entertainer that between observations made by police – and the singer’s poor performance during sobriety tests conducted at the scene – the decision was made to place him under arrest.
A rattled Justin Timberlake, 45, was seen in newly-released police body cam footage complaining about how he was being treated following his June 2024 DWI arrest
A dejected Timberlake replied, ‘You boys are treating me like a criminal.’
Timberlake, who had been in his 2025 BMW X7 at the time he was pulled over, appeared to try to lighten the mood with officers.
Justin Timberlake fights to keep ‘ruin the tour’ DWI bodycam footage from public eyes
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.
In separate footage released by authorities, Timberlake appeared to be 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 he was 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.’
Timberlake was eventually handcuffed and placed into custody after he would not 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.
Timberlake appeared to tried to lighten the mood with officers with jokes and compliments
Timberlake pictured in a holding cell in the newly-released body cam footage
Timberlake seen chatting with an officer following his June 2024 arrest
Timberlake subsequently made a statement condemning drunken driving after he accepted 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 of 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 said, included contacting a friend; hailing a taxi cab; or taking ‘travel apps’ such as Uber.
He wrapped up in 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.
