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Justin Timberlake addresses arrest for first time: ‘It’s been a tough week’

Justin Timberlake addressed his arrest for the first time during his concert in Chicago, telling fans “it’s been a tough week”.

Justin Timberlake’s mugshot released in New York arrest

Justin Timberlake addressed his Tuesday morning DWI arrest for the first time during his concert in Chicago on Friday evening.

“It’s been a tough week,” Timberlake told the United Center crowd. “I know I’m hard to love sometimes but you keep loving me right back.”

Timberlake speaks out after arrest

According to Page Six, Timberlake made the remarks during a message to his fans, where he stressed they’ve both been through the “ups-and-downs and lefts-and-rights.”

Justin Timberlake addressed his arrest for the first time at his Chicago on Friday evening. Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Justin Timberlake addressed his arrest for the first time at his Chicago on Friday evening. Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The outlet was told that during his arrest, Timberlake, 43, voiced his concern that the traffic stop would “ruin the tour.” He is currently on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, which kicked off in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 29 and has stops in more than 50 cities.

However, on Thursday, a music industry insider informed Page Six the legal incident would not affect the ongoing tour and that he would “continue promotion for his album Everything I Thought It Was as planned, which, of course, includes his tour dates.”

His Chicago tour stops, which include Friday and Saturday nights, mark his first concerts following his short stint in prison.

The singer was arrested for allegedly drink-driving in Sag Harbour in New York. Picture: AFP PHOTO / SAG HARBOR POLICE DEPARTMENT
The singer was arrested for allegedly drink-driving in Sag Harbour in New York. Picture: AFP PHOTO / SAG HARBOR POLICE DEPARTMENT

The 10-time Grammy winner was arrested in Sag Harbour, New York shortly after midnight Tuesday while travelling back to his hotel from a dinner with his friends at the American Hotel, per Page Six’s sources.

An officer pulled him over after he blatantly blew through a stop sign and swerved across the road.

According to the criminal complaint, he refused a breathalyser test at the scene and “performed poorly” on his field sobriety tests.

Furthermore, he had “bloodshot and glassy” eyes, a “strong odour” of alcohol in his breath and “slowed speech” — all telltale signs of intoxication.

Timberlake is seen on CCTV driving his BMW X7 through the village in the Hamptons.
Timberlake is seen on CCTV driving his BMW X7 through the village in the Hamptons.

One of Page Six’s eyewitnesses noted that Timberlake’s friends “were telling the police, ‘Let him go, let him go,’” during the arrest. The pleas allegedly did not work because the arresting officer “was so young that he didn’t even know” Timberlake was a world-famous pop star.

He was ultimately hit with one count of driving while intoxicated as well as two traffic violations for failing to obey a stop sign and failure to stay in a proper lane of travel.

While an insider told Page Six the Cry Me a River singer had stopped drinking ahead of his tour, another told us it’s “no secret” he has a drinking problem.

The singer was worried his arrest would affected his tour. Picture: Michael TRAN / AFP
The singer was worried his arrest would affected his tour. Picture: Michael TRAN / AFP

He even admitted 18 years ago that he partook in heavy alcohol consumption and had tried “way too many drugs.”

“I get completely plastered, I’ve done my fair share of drugs and I’ve been caught places with my pants down,” he added.

That, of course, was before he married his wife, Jessica Biel, with whom he shares two sons: Silas, 9, and Phineas, 3.

Biel, 42, is reportedly “extremely upset” over her husband’s antics.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Justin Timberlake addresses arrest for first time: ‘It’s been a tough week’

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/justin-timberlake-addresses-arrest-for-first-time-its-been-a-tough-week/news-story/6e77aeb628f9ed9cf96c3df7872037c9