Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Justin Timberlake
Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Justin Timberlake.
Justin Timberlake is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and dancer, often called the "Prince of Pop." Billboard recognized him as a top-performing solo act and a leading pop star of the 21st century. He is among the best-selling music artists ever, with over 117 million records sold globally. Timberlake's accolades include ten Grammy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, three Brit Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, the Contemporary Icon Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and MTV's Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
2002: Public Scrutiny Over Comments About Britney Spears
Following the release of Framing Britney Spears, public attention was drawn to old comments Justin Timberlake made in 2002 about his relationship with Britney Spears, with some considering them misogynistic.
February 2004: Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show Controversy
In February 2004, Justin Timberlake performed with Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, where a "wardrobe malfunction" occurred, leading to controversy and media attention.
2016: Influence on Tennessee Voting Law
In 2016, following controversy over Timberlake's voting booth selfie, Senator Brian Kelsey brought up a bill to allow photos in Tennessee voting poll stations.
2018: Producer Statement on Super Bowl Halftime Show
In 2018, Salli Frattini, the producer of the Halftime show, stated that the production team experimented with removing elements of clothing in rehearsal to reveal Jackson's skirt without nudity but that the idea was ultimately nixed.
2023: Spears' Memoir Details Abortion
In her 2023 memoir, Britney Spears wrote that she became pregnant during their relationship with Justin Timberlake and had an abortion in late 2000 after Timberlake said they were not prepared for parenthood and he did not want to be a father.
June 18, 2024: Arrest for Driving While Intoxicated
Shortly after midnight on June 18, 2024, Justin Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York for driving while intoxicated (DWI). He was also cited for running a stop sign and failure to keep in lane.
June 21, 2024: Concert in Chicago Following Arrest
Despite his recent arrest, Justin Timberlake performed a concert in Chicago on June 21, 2024, where he appeared to address the arrest, saying "We've been through ups and downs and lefts and rights... It's been a tough week - but you're here, and I'm here...I know sometimes I'm hard to love, but you keep on loving me and I love you right back."
June 22, 2024: Bartender Confirmation of One Martini and Arrest Report Details
On June 22, 2024, bartender employees at the hotel where Justin Timberlake was staying before his DWI arrest confirmed to People that he only had one martini while at the hotel bar. However, the arrest report stated that his eyes were bloodshot, and he performed poorly on sobriety tests.
July 26, 2024: Scheduled Court Appearance
Justin Timberlake was scheduled to return to court on July 26, 2024, following his arrest for driving while intoxicated (DWI).
August 9, 2024: Scheduled Court Hearing
Justin Timberlake was scheduled to have another hearing on August 9, 2024, but he was not required to attend this court hearing.
September 11, 2024: Plea Deal Revealed
On September 11, 2024, it was revealed that Justin Timberlake would plead guilty to a less serious traffic offense during his September 13 court appearance, with the DWI charge being dropped.
September 13, 2024: Guilty Plea to Driving While Impaired
On September 13, 2024, Justin Timberlake pled guilty to a noncriminal driving while impaired traffic violation. Irace then sentenced Justin Timberlake to a $500 fine with a $260 surcharge, 25 hours of community service at the nonprofit of his choosing and required him to make a public safety announcement. It also revealed that Justin Timberlake's refusal to take a breathlyzer automatically triggered a suspension of his driver's license under New York state law.
