Photo: Sag Harbor Police Department
"This is going to ruin the tour." "What tour?" "The world tour."
It's the exchange that's rocked the internet.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Justin Timberlake was arrested on a drunk driving charge in Sag Harbour, New York. The cop who pulled him over was reportedly "so young he didn't even know" who the 'SexyBack' singer was.
Timberlake had been out for dinner with friends at the American Hotel before "one martini" had him pulled over, failing field sobriety tests, and arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving.
The 43-year-old popstar had allegedly driven his 2025 BMW through a stop sign and failed "to keep on the right side of the roadway", according to the criminal complaint.
Timberlake has since been released without posting bail and will reportedly continue his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, which has dates scheduled until 2 December.
Photo: AFP
Who is Justin Timberlake?
If you're anything like the young cop who didn't recognise Timberlake or his name, this is for you.
Justin Timberlake was a shining star of 1990s and early 2000s pop music. His boyband beginnings with NSYNC and a high-profile relationship with Britney Spears had cemented his place in celebrity culture. By the 2010s, he had grown an acclaimed solo career that earned him 10 Grammys, four Emmys, and the music media-bestowed title of "Prince of Pop".
A young Justin Timberlake in NSYNC's music video for It's Gonna Be Me. Photo: NSYNC / YouTube
The fall from grace
Somewhere along the line, the culture shifted in a way Timberlake was not prepared for.
The Forget Tomorrow World Tour - the tour Timberlake was referring to that's happening this year - follows the release of Everything I Thought I Was, his first album release in six years.
It's a strange time to launch a career comeback; Timberlake's public reputation has changed vastly since he's been away from the limelight, largely due to his past actions and behaviours coming back under the microscope in a more critical cultural landscape.
The driving while intoxicated charge (DWI) is latest in a rapidly tarnishing public image.
Timberlake has slipped up one too many times in the public eye; he's in pop culture exile. The reception to his downfall can be all but summed up in one word: Schadenfreude.
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake attend the 2001 American Music Awards wearing coordinated double denim looks. Photo: JEFFREY MAYER
Relationship with Britney Spears
Britney Spears was the biggest pop star in the world in the late 1990s. Her burgeoning relationship with Timberlake, then a member of NSYNC, elevated his fame above that of his bandmates. They were the ultimate power couple of every teenage girl's dreams.
By 2002, it was heartbreak; Timberlake had broken up with Spears by text and penned the revenge single 'Cry Me A River', which featured a music video where a blonde actress, who strongly resembles Spears, cheats on him.
This began a barrage of abuse directed towards Spears that would last years. That was until 2023, when Spears released the tell-all book The Woman in Me and laid their relationship bare.
In it, she revealed she became pregnant with Timberlake's baby during their three-year relationship but had an abortion at his request. The book also suggested Timberlake had been unfaithful to her and gave more insight into their break-up. Timberlake had only sent a two-word text to call things off: "It's over".
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake perform at half-time at Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium, 01 February 2004 in Houston, TX. Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP Photo: JEFF HAYNES
'Nipplegate' with Janet Jackson
In 2004, Janet Jackson performed the Superbowl half-time show, with Timberlake appearing as a surprise guest. The pair performed a duet of his hit 'Rock Your Body'.
When he reached his final line ("Bet I'll have you naked by the end of this song"), Timberlake pulled off a part of Jackson's costume revealing her right breast live on air.
The "wardrobe malfunction" caused an uproar and the network broadcasting the performance was even fined $550,000. The split-second incident has had a long-lasting, damaging effect on Jackson's career, while Timberlake has emerged unscathed, even going on to headline the 2018 Super Bowl half-time show himself.
What's next for Justin Timberlake?
Timberlake is scheduled to appear virtually in court on 26 July. His scheduled court date coincides with the start of his world tour at the Tauron Arena in Krakow.
According to the BBC, his lawyer Edward Burke Jr told PA Media news agency that he looks forward to "vigorously defending" the singer on allegations of driving while intoxicated.
"I will have a lot to say at the appropriate time but am currently awaiting full discovery from the District Attorney's office."
-BBC/RNZ