Justin Timberlake is missing a chance to redeem – Latest News
Once again, Justin Timberlake is displaying us why he is, as he as soon as described himself, “hard to love.”
The singer, who was busted for drunk driving in Sag Harbor in 2024 and pleaded down to a lesser charge of driving whereas impaired, is suing the village — an attempt to forestall police bodycam footage of the arrest from being made public after members of the media filed an FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request for its release.
In the lawsuit, Timberlake’s lawyer argued that “disclosure of this footage would constitute an unwarranted invasion” of the singer’s privateness.
Justin Timberlake, who was busted for drunk driving in Sag Harbor in 2024 and pleaded down to a lesser charge of driving whereas impaired, is suing the village — an attempt to forestall police bodycam footage from the arrest from being made public. AP
Court paperwork additionally say the video might do “severe and irreparable harm” to Timberlake’s “personal and professional reputation” and subject the singer to “public ridicule and harassment.”
Cry. Me. A. River.
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He is aware of he’ll seem like a first-class idiot as a result of he refused a breathalyzer and, reportedly, complained to the officer that an arrest would “ruin” his world tour.
There is an various to all this, however it might require humility.
Fighting the video’s release brings far more consideration to its existence. It additionally underscores Timberlake’s staggering self-importance — the idea that he must be spared public disgrace whereas many of his fellow celebrities have suffered a related destiny for such a harmful lapse in judgment.
Timberlake’s lawsuit claims the arrest footage might additionally do “severe and irreparable harm” to his “personal and professional reputation” and subject the singer to “public ridicule and harassment.” Getty Images
What makes him higher than the likes of Mary Lou Retton, ex-quarterback Jay Cutler, Mel Gibson, Tiger Woods or another well-known individual whose busts for driving impaired have been broadcast on the web?
The legal demand additionally hollows out the apology Timberlake made at a press convention after he was ordered to carry out 25 hours of group service.
“This is a mistake that I made, but I am hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake,” he mentioned on the time.
I feel Timberlake — whose fame has taken a battering over the previous couple of years after unflattering disclosures by his troubled ex Britney Spears — ought to really use the video as a public service.
Justin Timberlake’s mug shot from his arrest in June 2024. Sag Harbor PD
Don’t battle its release. Own it. Say, “Don’t be like this jerk, who could have killed someone.”
After all, we simply had a poignant reminder of what’s at stake.
Just a little over a week in the past, we had been all celebrating the gold medal win of the lads’s US hockey group. After the win, gamers held up the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets winger who, alongside along with his brother Matthew, died when their bikes had been hit by an alleged drunk driver in August 2024.
There was not a dry eye as two of Johnny’s younger children had been welcomed to the ice.
Amid all of the media protection, there was a shortage of a easy however important message: Two males had been killed so unnecessarily. So senselessly.
After successful the gold medal final month, Team USA gamers introduced Johnny Gaudreau’s daughter, Noa, onto the ice. Gaudreau and his brother had been killed whereas biking once they had been hit by an allegedly drunk driver. AP
The group additionally introduced out Gaudreau’s son Johnny. AP
But their sister Katie Gaudreau reminded us. After all, they had been killed on the eve of her wedding ceremony, turning what ought to have been a joyous household occasion into an unspeakable nightmare.
Posting a picture of Team USA’s Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski skating to her brother’s kids, she wrote on Instagram: “Here’s your reminder not to drink and drive.”
“Think about my two amazing brothers and their four children who were robbed of happiness and moments they’ll never get back because someone couldn’t stay home instead of drinking and getting behind the wheel,” she added.
“Tomorrow will be another day we have to walk into court and face this nightmare. [Relive] that terrible night. Make the decision do the right thing.”
Thankfully, Timberlake didn’t bodily hurt anybody. He was tremendous fortunate that night time when he bought behind the wheel.
Katie Gaudreau, who misplaced her brothers Johnny and Matthew to an alleged drunk driver, used the Team USA win to remind people not to drink and drive. Katie Gaudreau/ Instagram
Johnny Gaudreau was a winger for the Blue Jackets, whereas his brother Matthew had been within the AHL. Getty Images
But drunk driving is horrifically silly, particularly within the age of ride-shares — which ought to have made the harmful observe extinct.
For a superstar who has the entry and means to have a personal driver, it’s significantly unforgivable.
It’s additionally handled far too casually.
People make errors, and must be granted grace. But it’s additionally telling how one acts after a transgression. And Timberlake, who acquired simply a slap on the wrist, continues to show that he thinks he’s above the results.
