After pleading guilty to a DWI charge on June 18, Justin Timberlake has found himself the subject of widespread ridicule.
The 43-year-old singer appeared outside a Sag Harbor court on Friday, delivering a lengthy and solemn speech to reporters.
He was ordered to pay a $500 fine and complete 25 hours of community service.
During his speech, Timberlake urged people to avoid driving after consuming even a single drink.
Public Reaction: Criticism and Sarcasm
Timberlake’s attempt to address the issue didn’t sit well with everyone.
Viewers quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disdain.
One user remarked, “I don’t know who this Timberlake clown is, but when you do something wrong, just admit it and say you are sorry.
But stop with the moral lectures.
You are the last person qualified to give moral lectures to others.”
Another user was less forgiving, saying, “Justin Timberlake, you are not an actor and I see right through your little bulls**t speech.”
Others were more sarcastic, with one saying, “Justin Timberlake holding a teary-eyed press conference about his one DUI charge as if we care.
He really thinks this is the year 2000.”
Mixed Reactions on Social Media
The criticism continued when Timberlake’s speech was shared on TikTok.
Comments ranged from, “Lol preaching after he got caught,” to, “Thank you Justin, you’ve changed my life with this eye-opening information.”
However, there were some who defended him.
One person wrote, “Props to Justin Timberlake for owning it,” while another added, “I can appreciate & respect Justin Timberlake for accepting responsibility for his driving irresponsibly.
In a world of complete lack of accountability, this was rare.
Whether court-mandated or not, he still did it!”
Timberlake’s Apology and Reflection
Dressed in a dark gray T-shirt and sweater, Timberlake addressed the crowd, acknowledging his lapse in judgment.
“Many of you have probably been covering me for a lot of my life, and as you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard.
This was not that,” he said.
He continued, “I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision.
I’ve had some time to reflect on that and understand I have a platform – we share that platform – so what I would like to say to everyone watching and listening is: if you have one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.”
Timberlake emphasized alternatives such as calling a friend or using a ride service, hoping that others could learn from his mistake.
He also expressed gratitude to the people of Sag Harbor and concluded by urging everyone to be more responsible on the roads.
Legal Context and Lawyer’s Statement
As part of his plea deal, Timberlake agreed to make a public statement about the dangers of drunk driving.
Although Judge Carl Irace initially preferred a public service announcement, he accepted the deal under certain conditions.
Timberlake’s lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., clarified that Timberlake had finished one drink over two hours at the American Hotel and wasn’t consuming others’ drinks or warned not to drive.
Burke also noted that Timberlake remained polite and respectful throughout his encounter with law enforcement.
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