A look back at Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest. Here's why he's suing.
A look back at Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest. Here's why he's suing.
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY Tue, March 3, 2026 at 8:11 PM UTC
0
Justin Timberlake does not want the public to see video of his 2024 arrest on charges of driving while intoxicated, as indicated by the "Cry Me a River" singer's recent legal filing.
The pop star, 45, filed a lawsuit to prevent the public release of bodycam footage showing his arrest, with his lawyers arguing that it would violate Timberlake's privacy.
Timberlake was detained in the Hamptons, a wealthy enclave of Long Island, New York, in June 2024 for driving while intoxicated. He pleaded guilty in September 2024 to driving while impaired.
Authorities have paused plans to release the footage until the legal dispute is settled. Even without the full video, the arrest became something of a pop culture reference when it was reported that Timberlake had reportedly told the arresting officer the incident would "ruin" his upcoming "world tour," giving birth to an enduring online meme.
Need a refresher on what exactly happened with the original arrest? We've got you covered.
When was Justin Timberlake arrested? And why?
Timberlake was apprehended by police in the Hamptons at 12:37 a.m. ET on June 18, 2024, according to the Sag Harbor Village Police Department.
He was pulled over in his 2025 BMW after failing to stop at a stop sign and "maintain his lane of travel," at which point officers pulled him over and found him to be "operating his vehicle in an intoxicated position," as previously reported by USA TODAY.
The singer declined an alcohol test and was held in custody overnight. He was released the following morning without bail after the arraignment. He told police at the time that he had only had one martini, according to The New York Times.
One of Timberlake's lawyers, Edward Burke Jr., told USA TODAY in July 2024 that the star was not actually intoxicated when pulled over.
"The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DWI," Burke said, adding that the police "made a number of very significant errors in this case." Additionally, Burke said Timberlake didn't drink "other people's drinks" and only had "one drink in two hours."
In this handout image provided by the Sag Harbor Police Department, Musician Justin Timberlake is seen in a booking photo on June 18, 2024, in Sag Harbor, New York. Timberlake was charged with driving while intoxicated.What was Justin Timberlake charged with?
Timberlake pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of driving while ability impaired (DWAI), a noncriminal traffic violation, in September 2024. This charge is generally levied when a person is operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but to a lesser degree. Unlike driving while intoxicated, which means someone's blood alcohol level is over the legal limit (usually 0.08%), DWAI usually means they tested under that limit.
Advertisement
For a first offense, as was the case for Timberlake, a DWAI charge in New York can result in a fine of $300 to $500, up to 15 days in jail, and/or a 90-day license suspension.
Timberlake's license was already taken after he refused to submit to alcohol testing, which is an automatic one-year suspension in New York State. He also agreed to pay a fine and serve 25 to 40 hours of community service at a nonprofit of his choice.
"I try to hold myself to a very high standard. And this was not that," Timberlake told reporters outside the courtroom after his hearing. "I'd like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you had one drink, don't get behind the wheel of a car. There's so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber."
What is the 'world tour' meme?
An alleged exchange between Timberlake and an officer quickly became something of a meme (or joke) online after his arrest.
It began with an anonymous source telling Page Six that Timberlake had expressed concern over his ongoing Forget Tomorrow World Tour while being pulled over. As the story goes, Timberlake murmured something like "this is going to ruin the tour," to which the officer, who also reportedly did not recognize Timberlake, asked, "What tour?"
"The world tour," Timberlake supposedly replied.
The exchange has never been confirmed or reported independently of Page Six, but netizens didn't seem to care much for verification. Quickly, the mythos of the supposed quote grew, becoming a catchphrase and common meme format.
Did the Forget Tomorrow World Tour go on after Timberlake's arrest?
The world tour did, in fact, go on. It was the pop star's first tour in five years, coming after the release of his sixth solo album, "Everything I Thought It Was."
The North American leg of the tour kicked off in April at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, with stops in cities in the United States, Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom. At a Chicago stop shortly after his arrest, Timberlake thanked fans for their support during a "tough week."
"We’ve been together through ups and downs, lefts and rights," he said. "I know sometimes I’m hard to love, but you keep on loving me and I love you right back. Thank you so much!"
Contributing: Anna Kaufman, Naledi Ushe, Jay Stahl, Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Revisiting Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest amid lawsuit over footage
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
