Justin Timberlake’s Alcohol-Related Incidents Draw Renewed Attention After Bodycam Footage Release

Justin Timberlake’s past comments and behavior related to alcohol are facing renewed scrutiny following the public release of police bodycam footage from his 2024 arrest.

The footage, released on March 20, 2026, shows Timberlake during his arrest in Sag Harbor, New York, where he was stopped on June 18, 2024, for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Police reported that he ran a stop sign and drifted out of his lane before being pulled over.

According to officers, Timberlake had bloodshot and glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol. He told police he had consumed “one martini” and was following friends home. However, he failed multiple field sobriety tests and refused to take a breathalyzer test three times.

In the newly released video, Timberlake appears unsteady during the tests and expresses concern about how the arrest could affect his world tour.

In September 2024, Timberlake pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI). He was fined $500, ordered to complete 25 hours of community service, and had his driver’s license suspended for 90 days. As part of the agreement, he was also required to record a public service announcement warning about the dangers of impaired driving.

The 2024 arrest marked Timberlake’s first legal issue involving alcohol. However, it was not the first time he publicly connected his behavior to drinking.

In 2019, while filming the movie Palmer in New Orleans, Timberlake was photographed holding hands with co-star Alisha Wainwright. He later issued a public apology to his wife, Jessica Biel, saying he had “drank way too much that night” and describing the incident as a lapse in judgment.

After the 2024 arrest, some unnamed industry sources claimed in media reports that Timberlake had been dealing with a drinking problem for years. These claims have not been confirmed by Timberlake.

Fans also pointed out the resurfacing of a 2001 Budweiser public service announcement featuring Timberlake and his *NSYNC bandmates, in which they encouraged responsible conversations about alcohol.

Timberlake has addressed the issue publicly since his arrest. During performances on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, he told audiences, “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” and acknowledged that he can be “hard to love sometimes.”

In past interviews, Timberlake has also spoken about experimenting with substances earlier in his career. In a 2013 interview, he said he had used “many different substances” while attending the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in his 20s.

More recently, in July 2025, Timberlake revealed he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease, which he described as causing severe fatigue and nerve pain. Some observers have speculated about whether this condition may have affected his physical state at the time of his arrest, though no official link has been confirmed.

The release of the bodycam footage has led to fresh public discussion about whether Timberlake’s past incidents represent isolated events or a broader pattern related to alcohol use.