Video footage released Friday revealed pop star Justin Timberlake struggling to perform field sobriety tests after a police stop in Sag Harbor, New York, in June 2024. The release followed a legal agreement between Sag Harbor Police and Timberlake’s lawyers to disclose a redacted version of the video, according to the Associated Press.
The footage, spanning approximately eight hours, depicts Timberlake’s initial encounter with officers who stated he ran a stop sign, veered out of his lane, and exited his BMW smelling of alcohol. Timberlake told officers he had consumed one martini and was following friends home in the Hamptons, a collection of affluent towns roughly 160 kilometers east of New York City. When questioned about his presence in the area, Timberlake responded, “I’m on a world tour,” and later clarified, “World tour. I’m Justin Timberlake.”
Officers then requested Timberlake to perform a series of coordination tests, including walking a straight line and standing on one leg. The video shows Timberlake appearing flustered and apologizing to the officers, stating he felt nervous and his heart was racing. “These are like really hard tests,” Timberlake is heard saying in the footage.
Following his arrest, Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving in September 2024. As part of a plea deal that reduced the initial charge to a noncriminal traffic violation, Timberlake agreed to participate in a public safety announcement discouraging drunken driving. He was also fined $500, sentenced to 25 hours of community service, and had his driver’s license suspended for 90 days.
Timberlake’s legal team had initially attempted to block the video’s release, arguing it would violate his privacy and cause irreparable harm to his reputation. However, in a joint filing with the village, his lawyers conceded that the video did not constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy under New York state law. Representatives for Timberlake did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.
Sag Harbor officials, through their lawyer Vincent Toomey, stated they were pleased to have resolved the matter and complied with state public records law. “From the beginning of this matter, after Mr. Timberlake’s arrest, the Village has attempted to comply with the mandates of the Freedom of Information Law,” the village statement read. “As 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.”
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