Justin Timberlake held for DUI in the Hamptons

KATHMANDU: Pop star Justin Timberlake was arrested early Tuesday morning in Sag Harbor, an affluent village in the Hamptons, for driving while intoxicated, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Timberlake, 43, was stopped by police after allegedly driving through a stop sign and failing to stay on the right side of the road in his grey BMW.

Upon stopping Timberlake, officers reported that his eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and that a “strong odour of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath.” His speech was slowed, and he performed poorly on sobriety tests. Timberlake refused a breathalyser test but admitted to having “one martini” and following his friends home, according to CBS News.

Timberlake was formally charged and released without bail. He is scheduled to appear virtually in Sag Harbor court on July 26. His lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., stated that he “will vigorously defend his client and is currently engaged in the discovery process with the District Attorney’s Office.”

This incident comes as Timberlake was preparing to embark on a global tour for his sixth album, Everything I Thought It Was. The singer, known for his time with the boy band NSYNC and his successful solo career, has openly discussed seeking help for excessive drinking in the past.

In New York, penalties for driving while intoxicated include up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a minimum six-month suspension of the driver’s license.

Timberlake was scheduled to perform two shows in Chicago this weekend, followed by a show at Madison Square Garden in New York next Tuesday.

Timberlake, a 10-time Grammy winner, is also an accomplished actor known for his roles in The Social Network and Friends With Benefits. He is married to actor Jessica Biel, with whom he shares two children.

The BBC has reached out to Timberlake’s lawyer for further comment.