Justin Timberlake Arrested and Charged with DWI on Long Island
Music icon Justin Timberlake was arrested on June 18, 2024, and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Sag Harbor, Long Island. According to Sag Harbor Village Police, the 43-year-old singer was taken into custody early Tuesday morning and later arraigned on the DWI charge. Timberlake was released shortly after. His representatives have not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
A source revealed to People that Timberlake had been dining at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor before being stopped by police on his way to a friend’s house. Reports from TMZ indicate that Timberlake was cited for running a stop sign and failing to maintain his lane.
The arrest comes as Timberlake is in the midst of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, with upcoming performances scheduled for June 21 and 22 in Chicago.
About Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake first rose to fame as a member of the highly successful boy band NSYNC before launching a Grammy-winning solo career. A former child star on The All New Mickey Mouse Club, Timberlake’s career skyrocketed in the late 1990s with NSYNC. After the group’s disbandment, Timberlake made a seamless transition to solo success with his debut album Justified in 2002, followed by hit albums and chart-topping singles like “SexyBack” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”
In addition to his music career, Timberlake has made his mark as an actor, starring in films such as The Social Network, In Time, and the Trolls franchise. He is married to actress Jessica Biel and recently released his latest album, Everything I Thought I Was, in March 2024, featuring the hit single “Selfish.”
Early Life of Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake was born on January 31, 1981, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Randall “Randy” Timberlake and Lynn Bomer. His early years were shaped by the complexities of his family life. When he was four, his parents divorced, though both remarried, fostering an extended and close-knit family. On his father’s side, Timberlake has two half-brothers, and he also experienced the tragic loss of his half-sister, who passed away shortly after birth. Timberlake would later honor her memory in the *NSYNC song “My Angel in Heaven.”
Raised in a Baptist household, Timberlake began developing his musical abilities in the church choir. Surrounded by musicians in his family, his talent was nurtured from a young age. His uncle played in a bluegrass band, and one of his grandfathers, who had once jammed with Elvis Presley, taught him how to play guitar. Timberlake’s musical education spanned a wide range of genres—his grandfather introduced him to the likes of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, while his father exposed him to classic rock bands such as the Eagles and Queen. Growing up in Memphis, the home of the blues, Timberlake also developed an early appreciation for artists like B.B. King.
Timberlake’s first major break came when he joined The All New Mickey Mouse Club, a Disney-backed variety show, in 1993. Performing as a Mouseketeer from 1993 to 1995, he shared the screen with future pop icons Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and JC Chasez, as well as actor Ryan Gosling. Timberlake and Gosling even lived together for a time, with Gosling rooming with Timberlake and his mother. Though Timberlake’s post-show relationship with Spears gained significant media attention, it was his friendship with Chasez that would ultimately change the course of his life, leading to their future collaboration in *NSYNC.
NSYNC: A Legacy in Pop Music
Following their time on the revamped The All New Mickey Mouse Club, Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez were recruited by Chris Kirkpatrick to form a boy band in 1995. Completing the five-member lineup were Joey Fatone and Lance Bass. *NSYNC rapidly gained popularity in Europe with their debut single, “I Want You Back,” leading to a record deal with RCA in 1997. This marked the beginning of Timberlake’s ascent as a teen heartthrob.
The group quickly became one of the most prominent pop acts of the 1990s in the United States. Their self-titled debut album, released in March 1998, featured hits such as “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” further solidifying their presence in the music scene.
After navigating a highly publicized legal dispute with their former manager Lou Pearlman, *NSYNC released their second album, No Strings Attached, in 2000. This Grammy-nominated record became the top-selling album of the year and the best-selling album of the decade. Its lead single, “Bye Bye Bye,” emerged as the group’s signature track, earning two Grammy nominations. Subsequent hits like “It’s Gonna Be Me,” which became their only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, and “This I Promise You” established *NSYNC as one of the most successful boy bands in music history.
The band continued their success with the release of Celebrity in 2001, which produced three additional hit singles—“Pop,” “Gone,” and “Girlfriend”—and garnered two more Grammy nominations. Their PopOdyssey tour became one of the highest-grossing tours of the year, amassing $90 million in ticket sales.
Despite their immense popularity, *NSYNC entered an indefinite hiatus in 2002 as Timberlake embarked on a solo career. Nevertheless, the group maintained relevance in popular culture. In 2013, they reunited to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards and were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.
In September 2023, Timberlake and his former bandmates surprised fans with a reunion at the VMAs, where they presented the Best Pop Award to Taylor Swift, sparking speculation about future collaborations. Those rumors materialized when *NSYNC recorded “Better Place” for the soundtrack of the animated film Trolls Band Together, marking their first project together in two decades. In a November 2023 interview, Bass hinted at the possibility of future endeavors, stating, “I don’t see this as our last thing.
Solo Career: Songs, Albums, and Super Bowl Performances
In 2002, Justin Timberlake embarked on a remarkable solo career, debuting with the hit single “Like I Love You.” Later that year, he released his first solo album, Justified, which included chart-topping tracks such as “Cry Me a River” and “Rock Your Body.” The album was a commercial success, selling over 7 million copies globally and earning Timberlake two Grammy Awards in 2004: Best Pop Vocal Album for Justified and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Cry Me a River.”
These accolades followed a controversial Super Bowl performance in February 2004 with Janet Jackson, during which Timberlake inadvertently caused a wardrobe malfunction that revealed Jackson’s breast. This incident remains one of the most infamous moments in pop culture and even inspired a 2021 New York Times documentary.
Despite the controversy, Timberlake solidified his reputation as a leading figure in pop and R&B music. He collaborated frequently with Timbaland and the Black Eyed Peas, receiving a Grammy nomination for their joint effort “Where Is The Love?” He also worked with renowned artists such as Nelly, Snoop Dogg, and Nelly Furtado.
In 2005, Timberlake founded his record label, JayTee Records, and released his second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, in 2006. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. Its lead single, “SexyBack,” dominated the charts, while other successful tracks included “My Love,” “What Goes Around Comes Around,” and “LoveStoned/I Think She Knows,” collectively earning Timberlake four additional Grammy Awards.
In 2008, Timberlake contributed to Madonna’s single “4 Minutes,” which became a Top 10 hit, showcasing his dual role as a co-writer and vocalist. He later returned to the music scene in January 2013 with the single “Suit & Tie,” featuring Jay-Z. Their performance at the 2013 Grammy Awards, along with Timberlake’s performance of “Pusher Love Girl,” further solidified his presence in the industry, ultimately leading to the release of his long-awaited third album, The 20/20 Experience, in March 2013, which also topped the Billboard 200.
Timberlake’s success continued when he received the VMA Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2013. He released a companion album, The 20/20 Experience Part 2 of 2, that October, which, while not as critically acclaimed as its predecessor, debuted at No. 1 and produced hits like “Take Back the Night” and “TKO.”
In spring 2016, Timberlake released “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” the lead single from the Trolls movie soundtrack, which quickly ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in 16 other countries. The song earned him his 10th Grammy Award for Best Song Written For Visual Media and an Academy Award nomination. In January 2018, Timberlake released “Filthy,” the first single from his upcoming album, followed by the Top 10 hit “Say Something,” featuring Chris Stapleton. The album, titled Man of the Woods, included collaborations with Timbaland and Pharrell Williams and was released shortly before Timberlake’s performance at the Super Bowl LII halftime show.
Timberlake’s Super Bowl performance generated controversy before it even began, with the hashtag #JusticeForJanet circulating among fans who felt Janet Jackson had unfairly borne the fallout from their 2004 performance. Additionally, rumors of Timberlake’s planned holographic tribute to Prince faced backlash, as fans recalled Prince’s explicit disapproval of such technology.
After a brief hiatus, Timberlake returned in 2020 with new music for the Trolls sequel, including the successful single “The Other Side,” a collaboration with SZA.
New Album and 2024 Tour
In late January 2024, Timberlake released the song “Selfish” and announced his upcoming album, Everything I Thought It Was, marking his first release in six years. The album, featuring 18 tracks culled from nearly 100 written songs, debuted on March 15, 2024. Timberlake’s Forget Tomorrow World Tour commenced in late April, covering over 70 dates across North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
In mid-June 2024, Timberlake made headlines when he was arrested during a traffic stop on Long Island, New York, charged with driving while intoxicated, although he was later released following an arraignment.
Movies
Beyond his musical accomplishments, Timberlake has also established himself as a successful actor. His early roles in the 2006 films Alpha Dog and Black Snake Moan received modest attention, but he gained prominence that same year as a host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. His comedic timing and engaging performances earned him two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2009 and 2011, as well as two additional Emmy trophies for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
Timberlake’s voice acting career began in earnest when he portrayed a young King Arthur in the 2007 animated film Shrek the Third, which featured Mike Myers as the title character. He later collaborated with Myers again in the 2008 comedy The Love Guru, followed by a role in the 2009 drama The Open Road, alongside Jeff Bridges and Mary Steenburgen.
One of Timberlake’s most acclaimed performances occurred in the Oscar-winning drama The Social Network (2010), where he played Sean Parker, the co-founder of Napster, opposite Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The following year, Timberlake starred in three films: the comedy Bad Teacher with Cameron Diaz, the romantic comedy Friends with Benefits alongside Mila Kunis, and the futuristic thriller In Time with Amanda Seyfried.
He continued to diversify his filmography with roles in Clint Eastwood’s 2012 baseball drama Trouble with the Curve, as well as the 2013 thriller Runner Runner alongside Ben Affleck. Timberlake also portrayed Neil Bogart in Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) before returning to voice work as Branch in the animated film Trolls (2016), for which he served as an executive music producer. The success of Trolls led to two sequels: Trolls World Tour (2020) and Trolls Band Together (2023), with Timberlake contributing original music to each installment.
More recently, Timberlake starred in the titular role of the 2021 Apple original film Palmer and appeared in the 2022 Netflix thriller Reptile.
Jessica Biel and Family
Justin Timberlake is married to actress Jessica Biel. The couple began dating in 2007, experiencing a series of ups and downs in their relationship over the years before finally marrying in October 2012. Their wedding took place in the picturesque setting of Puglia, Italy. Following their nuptials, Timberlake and Biel shared with People magazine, “It’s great to be married. The ceremony was beautiful, and it was so special to be surrounded by our family and friends.”
Together, Timberlake and Biel are the proud parents of two sons. They welcomed their first son, Silas, in April 2015, followed by their second son, Phineas, in the summer of 2020.
Before his relationship with Biel, Timberlake was previously linked to pop singer Britney Spears and actress Cameron Diaz. Recently, Spears made headlines with the release of her memoir, The Woman in Me, in October 2023. In her book, she disclosed that she had an abortion after becoming pregnant with Timberlake’s child, stating, “He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young.” While Timberlake has not publicly commented on Spears’ revelations, a source told Elle that “Justin and Jessica [Biel] just want everyone to grow and evolve instead of continuing to bring up the past.”
Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Justin Timberlake’s estimated net worth is approximately $250 million.