Justin Timberlake’s DWI arrest video is released despite his attempt to block it | Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake struggled to take field sobriety tests that required him to walk in a straight line and stand on one leg after the pop star was pulled over by police officers who suspected him of driving drunk in New York’s Hamptons in 2024, according to video footage released Friday.

“These are like really tough tests,” Timberlake told officers at one point.

The nearly eight-hour-long footage includes Timberlake’s first stop after Sag Harbor police say he ran a stop sign in the village center, swerved out of his lane and emerged from his BMW smelling of alcohol that June.

The NSYNC singer, now a solo artist and actor, told officers he drank a martini and followed friends home to the former whaling village, located among the wealthy beach towns of the Hamptons, about 100 miles east of New York City.

When a police officer asks why he’s in town, Timberlake says: “I’m on a world tour.”

“What are you doing?” the officer asks.

“It’s hard to explain,” Timberlake says.

After stammering a bit, he said: “World tour. I’m Justin Timberlake.”

The officer finally responds: “You’re Justin Timberlake? Do you have your driver’s license with you?”

Timberlake, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of impaired driving, was asked by officers to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line on the road and lift one leg. Sometimes he seems flustered when listening to instructions. He apologizes to the officers and tells them his heart is beating fast.

“I’m a little nervous,” Timberlake said at one point.

In the backseat of the police car he asks: “Why are you arresting me?”

A woman who was out with her husband and Timberlake that night arrived at the scene at one point and unsuccessfully asked the Grammy-winning artist if she could give him her cell phone. When he realized he was being detained, he was heard saying: “Are you arresting Justin Timberlake right now?”

Referring to an NSYNC hit and one of her signature solo efforts, she later said: “Can you please do me a favor because you loved Bye Bye Bye or Sexyback? Do me a favor!”

Officers excused Timberlake for a period of time before bringing him to the police station and informing him that he would be held there overnight.

“Am I going to be here all night?” he says in the video. “You’re so wild, man.”

He asks the officer to keep the cell light on while he locks the door.

The statement from Sag Harbor police came after the village and Timberlake’s lawyers agreed to release a redacted version of the footage. The Associated Press was among several media organizations that requested records to release the video.

Timberlake’s lawyers had filed a lawsuit to block the release of the video, arguing that it would “devastate” Timberlake’s privacy by revealing “private, highly personal and sensitive details.” They also said it would cause “serious and irreparable harm” to his reputation by subjecting him to “public ridicule and harassment”.

But in a joint filing with the village on Friday, Timberlake’s lawyers acknowledged that the video “does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under the state’s public information law” and agreed to its release.

Timberlake’s lawyers and representatives did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment Friday.

Sag Harbor officials said in a statement by the village’s attorney, Vincent Toomey, that they were pleased the issue was resolved and that they were able to comply with the state public records law.

“From the outset of this matter, following Mr. Timberlake’s arrest, the village has attempted to comply with the requirements of the freedom of information law,” the statement said. “As would be true in any situation involving our police department’s records or video footage, such materials are reviewed and redacted to address public and officer safety concerns as well as personal privacy considerations.”

Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving in September 2024, nearly three months after his arrest.

The Tennessee native agreed to make a public safety announcement against the dangers of drunk driving as part of the plea agreement that reduced the original misdemeanor charge to a non-criminal traffic violation.

He was also given a $500 fine, 25 hours of community service and a 90-day driver’s license suspension.

Guardian staff contributed to reporting