Justin Timberlake has conceded that a Hamptons police department can release some of the officer bodycam footage from his viral DWI arrest two years ago.
The singer sued earlier this month for a legal injunction that would maintain the confidentiality of Sag Harbor Village Police Department footage from the incident. But on Friday (March 20), lawyers for Timberlake and the police notified a judge that they’d settled the matter.
“Petitioner had an opportunity to review the footage respondents intend to disseminate, as redacted, related to petitioner’s June 18, 2024 traffic stop and arrest,” reads the notice of settlement. “Petitioner agrees that the footage respondents intend to release, as redacted, does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
Sag Harbor police will now release the redacted bodycam footage to various news outlets that have submitted public records requests. It’s not clear yet what will be in this footage and whether or not it will confirm much-memeified, anonymous reports that Timberlake told his arresting officers, “This is going to ruin the tour.”
In a statement shared with Billboard on Friday, the Village of Sag Harbor said, “We are pleased that this matter has now been resolved and the village will be able to comply with its statutory obligation to release the material that is subject to disclosure.”
“From the beginning of this matter, after Mr. Timberlake’s arrest, the village has attempted to comply with the mandates of the Freedom of Information Law,” the statement reads. “As would be true in any case involving records or video footage from our police department, such material is reviewed and redacted to address public and officer safety concerns as well as personal privacy considerations.”
Reps for Timberlake did not immediately return a request for comment on the settlement.
Timberlake was arrested in June 2024 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He ultimately pled guilty to a lesser impaired driving charge and was sentenced to 25 hours of community service. He also made a public service announcement about the dangers of drinking and driving, in which he said, “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.”
In legal papers filed on March 2, Timberlake’s lawyers said the arrest footage depicted him in an “acutely vulnerable state” and that its release would “serve no legitimate public interest.” A Long Island judge ordered police not to release the videos until a court review could be completed.
