NEW YORK (AP) \u2014\u00a0Justin Timberlake\u00a0struggled to perform field sobriety tests requiring him to walk a straight line and stand on one leg after he was pulled over in\u00a0New York\u2019s Hamptons\u00a0in 2024 by police officers who suspected him of driving drunk, according to video footage released Friday.<\/p>\n
The pop star tells officers at one point, \u201cthese are like really hard tests.\u201d<\/p>\n
The footage, which runs roughly eight hours, includes Timberlake\u2019s initial stop after Sag Harbor police said he\u00a0ran a stop sign\u00a0in the village center, veered out of his lane and got out of his BMW smelling of alcohol that June.<\/p>\n
The NSYNC singer-turned-solo artist and actor tells officers he had consumed one martini and had been following friends home in the former whaling village, which is among the affluent beach towns of the Hamptons, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of New York City.<\/p>\n
When an officer asks why he is in town, Timberlake says, \u201cI\u2019m on a world tour.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoing what?\u201d the officer asks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHard to explain,\u201d Timberlake says.<\/p>\n
After stammering a bit, he says \u201cWorld tour. I\u2019m Justin Timberlake.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer eventually responds: \u201cYou are Justin Timberlake? Do you have a license with you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Timberlake, who ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, is asked by officers to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line on the road and lift one leg. At times he seems flustered listening to the instructions. He apologizes to officers and tells them his heart is racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a little nervous,\u201d Timberlake says at one point.<\/p>\n
In the back seat of the police car, he asks: \u201cWhy are you arresting me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Back at the police station, Timberlake is informed he will be held overnight, to which he says, \u201cI\u2019m going to be here all night? You guys are wild, man.\u201d<\/p>\n
He asks the officer to keep the light on in the cell as they lock the door.<\/p>\n
The release by Sag Harbor Police comes after the village and Timberlake\u2019s lawyers agreed to disclose a redacted version of the footage. The Associated Press was among several media outlets that filed a records request seeking the release of the video.<\/p>\n
Timberlake’s lawyers had\u00a0sued to block\u00a0the release of the video, arguing it would \u201cdevastate\u201d Timberlake\u2019s privacy by revealing \u201cintimate, highly personal, and sensitive details.\u201d They also said it would cause \u201csevere and irreparable harm\u201d to his reputation by subjecting him to \u201cpublic ridicule and harassment.\u201d<\/p>\n
But in a joint filing with the village Friday, Timberlake’s lawyers acknowledged the video \u201cdoes not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under\u201d the state’s public information law and agreed to its release.<\/p>\n
Timberlake’s lawyers and representatives didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment Friday.<\/p>\n
Sag Harbor officials, in a statement provided by the village’s lawyer, Vincent Toomey, said they are pleased the matter was resolved and they were able to comply with state public records law.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the beginning of this matter, after Mr. Timberlake\u2019s arrest, the Village has attempted to comply with the mandates of the Freedom of Information Law,\u201d the statement reads. \u201cAs would be true in any case involving records or video footage from our Police Department, such material is reviewed and redacted to address public and officer safety concerns as well as personal privacy considerations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving in September 2024.<\/p>\n
The Tennessee native agreed to give a public safety announcement against the perils of drunken driving as part of\u00a0the plea deal\u00a0that knocked down his initial misdemeanor charge to a noncriminal traffic violation.<\/p>\n
He was also sentenced to a $500 fine, 25 hours of community service and a 90-day suspension of his license.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Hill reported from Albany.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Follow Philip Marcelo at\u00a0twitter.com\/philmarcelo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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