Photos Justin Timberlake never wanted you to see

Five years before his DUI arrest, Justin Timberlake was caught in some compromising bar photos that led to a public apology.

Justin Timberlake admitted to drinking “way too much” several years before his arrest on DWI-related charges.

In November 2019, photos emerged of him holding hands with his Palmer co-star Alisha Wainwright at a New Orleans bar.

The following month, the former *NSYNC member — who has been married to Jessica Biel since October 2012 — publicly apologised for the ordeal.

“I stay away from gossip as much as I can,” he began his since-deleted Instagram post. “But for my family I feel it is important to address recent rumours that are hurting the people I love.”

These 2019 photos sparked a celeb scandal. Picture: MEGA TheMegaAgency.com

Timberlake could be seen holding hands with his co-star at the time. Picture: MEGA TheMegaAgency.com

Timberlake, 43, went on to explain his “strong lapse in judgement [sic]” but was “clear” in that “nothing happened” romantically with Wainwright, 34.

“I drank way too much that night and I regret my behaviour. I should have known better. This is not the example I want to set for my son,” insisted the singer, who now shares two sons — Silas, 9, and Phineas, almost 4 — with Biel, 42.

Timberlake issued a grovelling public apology to wife Jessica Biel (pictured) after the photos surfaced. Picture: Jerritt Clark/Getty

The musician went on to “apologise to [his] amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation” and maintained that he was “focused on being the best husband and father” moving forward.

Sources told the Sun at the time that Timberlake “appeared to have been drinking heavily and was unsteady on his feet” on the evening he was spotted with his on-screen love interest.

Timberlake insisted “nothing happened” between he and Palmer (pictured). Picture: MEGA TheMegaAgency.com

Timberlake issued a public apology to his wife after the photos surfaced. Picture: MEGA TheMegaAgency.com

The Grammy winner publicly admitted to concerning drinking habits twice before his PDA scandal with Wainwright.

In a 2014 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he revealed he once “drank a whole bottle of whiskey.”

And in 2006, he told Observer Music Monthly, “I’m just like everyone else — I get completely plastered, I’ve done my fair share of drugs and I’ve been caught places with my pants down. It’s just I make sure there are no cameras around.”

Timberlake has not yet addressed his recent run-in with the law.

The actor was pulled over in Sag Harbor, New York, just after midnight on Tuesday after allegedly running a stop sign and swerving following dinner with friends at the American Hotel.

Timberlake’s mugshot after his recent arrest. Picture: Sag Harbor Police Department

JT walks out of the police station. Picture: Matt Agudo/INSTARimages

According to the criminal complaint, the arresting officer observed Timberlake with “bloodshot and glassy” eyes and noted that he had “a strong odour of an alcoholic beverage … emanating from his breath.”

He was also allegedly “unable to divide attention,” “had slowed speech,” “was unsteady afoot” and “performed poorly on all standardised field sobriety tests.”

According to the officer, Timberlake also gave the “oral admission:” “I had one martini, and I followed my friends home.”

He allegedly thrice “refuse[d]” to take a breathalyser test before being charged with one count of driving while intoxicated and cited for two traffic violations.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission.