Justin Timberlake can’t seem to say “Bye Bye Bye” to the interest in his recent DWI.
The “Cry Me a River” singer, 43, was the butt of a joke in the Season 2 premiere of the CBS police procedural “Elsbeth,” which made a not-so-subtle reference to his June arrest in the Hamptons.
During the first few minutes of the prime-time series’ second season opener, which aired Thursday, Oct. 17, the show’s titular lead Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston) and her NYPD pal Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson) take a stroll through the streets of Manhattan and opine the summer’s lack of salacious crimes that required their crime-solving capabilities.
“What happened to all our high-profile cases?” Tascioni bemoans.
“Oh, they’re all in Martha’s Vineyard, Tuscany … driving drunk in Sag Harbor,” Blanke responds before she and Tascioni share a sardonic smirk and then laugh.
Timberlake was charged with driving while intoxicated after being arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, on June 18.
The pop star was cited for running a stop sign and failing to keep in his lane. He refused to take a breathalyzer and infamously remarked that the incident would “ruin the tour.” When the arresting officer asked, “What tour?” Timberlake replied, “The world tour.”
The singer is currently on his Forget Tomorrow world tour. The exchange launched countless memes.
A police report revealed that Timberlake claimed he only had “one martini” on the night of his arrest. However, according to the report, the star failed multiple field sobriety tests and displayed signs of intoxication, including poor balance and an inability to follow instructions.
Timberlake took a plea deal and pled guilty to a lesser charge of driving while ability impaired during a Sept. 13 court appearance.
“I did not live up to the standard I hold myself to,” Timberlake told the judge. He also said that he was “raised on certain values” and acknowledged the influence he has as a public figure given the “platform” he holds, one which he “spent [his] life making.”
Timberlake paid a $500 fine and was sentenced to 25 hours of community service. He was also ordered to make a public apology.
“This is a mistake that I made but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake,” Timberlake said outside a Sag Harbor courthouse.
“Even one drink — don’t get behind the wheel of the car.”
“Elsbeth,” a spinoff of “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight,” debuted in February 2024 and quickly became a hit with audiences. The show airs Thursdays on CBS at 10 p.m. EST and is available to stream on Paramount+.
