Justin Timberlake loses license after shock plea from Germany

A court suspended Justin Timberlake’s license after the pop star dialled in from his Forget Tomorrow world tour to face drunk driving charges.

Justin Timberlake had his license suspended after pleading not guilty to drunk driving charges via Zoom.

The 43-year-old took time out of his Forget Tomorrow world tour to appear virtually from Germany on a misdemeanour charge of driving while influenced.

Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace suspended Timberlake’s license during the arraignment, citing the singer’s refusal to take a breathalyser test when pulled over near the American Hotel on June 18.

Justin Timberlake’s mugshot after being charged with driving while influenced. Picture: Getty Images

Justin Timberlake is seen on CCTV driving his BMW X7 through the village of Sag Harbor in the Hamptons on Monday night. Supplied

After initially telling police he had one martini when pulled over for running a stop sign, Timberlake’s lawyer publicly stated that the singer was “not intoxicated” and that they would have a lot to say about the case.

Mr Irace scolded the lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., and threatened a gag order for “irresponsible” comments that came off as an “attempt to poison the case before it even begins”.

The criminal complaint against Timberlake said he appeared “in an intoxicated condition” with “bloodshot and glassy” eyes and “a strong odour of an alcoholic beverage” coming from him.

The officer wrote that Timberlake “performed poorly on all standardised field sobriety tests”.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Burke said he was not concerned about a possible gag order.

“I don’t see that happening. We all have jobs to do. We’re obligated to zealously defend our client,” he said, according to Deadline.

Justin Timberlake performs onstage during the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre. Picture: Getty Images

Timberlake is set to perform in Antwerp, Belgium, on August 3 (local time) before taking the show to the UK and the Netherlands.

Mr Irace set the next court hearing to Friday, August 9 for a lawyer’s conference, a day after Timberlake is scheduled to perform in Manchester.

Timberlake may be compelled to appear in person at future hearings, with the next scheduled for September 13 when the singer is due back in the United States between his tour dates in France on September 7, and New Jersey on September 28.

He faces a fine of up to US $2,500 or a year in jail if found guilty.

Originally published as Justin Timberlake loses license after shock plea from Germany