Justin Timberlake Fights Release of DWI Arrest Bodycam Footage
Justin Timberlake is attempting to block the release of bodycam footage from his 2024 DWI arrest, claiming it would irreparably damage his reputation.
A legal battle is brewing as Justin Timberlake has filed a lawsuit to prevent the release of bodycam footage from his DWI arrest in 2024.
The former NSYNC star was arrested after allegedly running a stop sign and swerving out of his lane. He was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and reportedly told the arresting officer he'd had one martini and was following friends. He allegedly refused a breath test and spent the night at the local police station.
Timberlake later agreed to a plea deal, with the DWI charge reduced to driving while ability impaired (DWAI). He received a $500 fine, a $260 surcharge, and 25 hours of community service. He also urged fans to reconsider driving under the influence.
Now, nearly two years later, Timberlake is fighting to keep the bodycam footage under wraps. He's filed a petition against the Village of Sag Harbor and its police department, arguing that releasing the footage would cause "severe and irreparable harm" to his personal and professional life, subjecting him to “public ridicule and harassment.”
Timberlake is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. His attorneys met with a judge, arguing that releasing the unedited footage would be an invasion of his privacy.
This legal action comes in response to public records requests from numerous news outlets.
According to Hollywood Reporter, the petition states that "The footage at issue depicts petitioner in an acutely vulnerable state during a roadside encounter with law enforcement, capturing intimate details of petitioner’s physical appearance, demeanor, speech, and conduct during field sobriety testing, the subsequent arrest, and petitioner’s confinement following arrest over the next several hours."
It's worth noting that Timberlake reportedly told the arresting officer, "This is going to ruin the tour," a phrase that has since become a meme.
The petition continues, "Public dissemination of this footage would cause severe and irreparable harm to Petitioner’s personal and professional reputation, subject Petitioner to public ridicule and harassment, and serve no legitimate public interest in understanding the operations of government."
"Disclosure of this footage would constitute an unwarranted invasion of Petitioner’s personal privacy under Public Officers Law. The privacy interests at stake decisively outweigh any purported public benefit from disclosure, and this court should exercise its authority to prevent the release of this highly sensitive material.”
ABC News reports that the judge has not yet ruled and instead asked Timberlake's attorneys to confer with Sag Harbor officials to find a possible resolution.
In other news, Timberlake released his sixth album, 'Everything I Thought It Was,' in March 2024. NME gave it a three-star review, writing: “Timberlake is a less beloved pop superstar than he probably should be 25 years after he sang ‘It’s gonna be may’ on an era-defining NSYNC banger.
“‘Everything I Thought It Was’ shows he hasn’t lost his vocal chops or ability to work a groove, but it doesn’t do enough to make you block out past misdemeanours. For now, Timberlake’s problematic fave era will have to wait.”
Last summer, the singer shared that he had been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. In February, he returned to performing for the first time since revealing his diagnosis.
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