Justin Timberlake Files Petition To Block Video Release Of His 2024 DWI Arrest

Justin Timberlake is taking steps to keep his 2024 arrest footage private. The singer has filed a petition, citing concerns over privacy and the potential impact on his personal and professional life. This comes after several news outlets requested the release of the video.

Timberlake is taking legal action to stop the public from accessing a bodycam video stemming from his DWI arrest in 2024 in Sag Harbor, New York.

Per the documents filed by the singer's lawyers on March 2 in the Suffolk County Supreme Court, "The harm from public exposure -- stigma, harassment, reputational injury, and the permanent loss of privacy -- is immediate and irreparable" if the video is released, per NBC News.

One of Timberlake's lawyers, Edward Burke Jr., said the footage is about eight hours long and includes not only the arrest itself, but also the incidents that happened after the arrest.

"The bodycam footage captures approximately eight hours of continuous recording and encroaches upon areas of Petitioner's life and emotional state," which he said isn't relevant to Timberlake's arrest.

Timberlake's move to block access comes after multiple media outlets made FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests for his bodycam arrest video.

FOIL allows the public, media, and attorneys to request police body-worn camera (BWC) footage, which is classified as public record. However, not all FOIL requests are granted, especially when there are privacy concerns or sensitive information included in the footage.

As previously reported by The Blast shortly after Timberlake's arrest, the video was sealed, per an agreement between the parties involved. According to Vincent Toomey, an attorney for the Village of Sag Harbor, the police department had plans to release a redacted version of the footage.

In the filing, Timberlake's attorneys asserted, "Once the footage is released to the requestor(s) and disseminated online or through media, the disclosure cannot be undone. Digital copies can be replicated infinitely, beyond the court's ability to retrieve or control, rendering any subsequent relief inadequate."

According to Toomey, a judge has held off on ruling regarding Timberlake's petition in the meantime to allow the two parties to negotiate and come to an agreement about what to do with the arrest footage.

Meanwhile, Timberlake filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent the police department from releasing footage while the issue is ongoing.

On June 18, 2024, Timberlake was driving a BMW and was observed failing to obey a stop sign and swerving shortly after midnight. An officer made a traffic stop and saw that the singer's eyes were "bloodshot and glassy," as reported by CNN.

The officer noted the smell of alcohol, and when asked, Timberlake said he only had one martini to drink and was following his friends on his way home. The singer was subjected to a field sobriety test, and the report read, "He had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly."

He was taken to the Sag Harbor Police Headquarters for processing, but he repeatedly refused to undergo a chemical test to determine his blood alcohol content. He was charged with DWI and two citations and was released the next day without bail.

A few months after his arrest, Timberlake took a plea deal, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of driving while ability-impaired. He was ordered to make a public service announcement on the dangers of impaired driving, as well as pay a $500 fine and do 25 hours of community service. His driver's license was also suspended for 90 days.

His lawyer, Burke, also spoke out, saying his client only had one drink and was never rude or belligerent with law enforcement. "In fact, he was polite, and he was cooperative," Burke said.

In a statement, Timberlake said he was disappointed in himself after reflecting on his arrest. He also thanked all those involved in his case. "I found myself in a position where I should've taken a moment. I should've had better judgment. I understand and appreciate the seriousness of this situation I put myself in," he said.