Justin Timberlake has a word of caution for his fans — “don’t get behind the wheel” after drinking.
The superstar singer made those comments after he pleaded guilty on Friday, Sept. 13, to a non-criminal offense of “driving while impaired” in New York.
Timberlake had initially been charged with “driving while intoxicated,” but as part of his agreement with prosecutors, he entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge at the Sag Harbor Village Justice Courthouse on Long Island, N.Y.
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He was arrested on June 18.
Police said at the time that he ran a stop sign and veered out of his lane. He was pulled over and taken into custody on suspicion of DWI.
The arrest happened after the “Cry Me a River” singer had dinner at a hotel in Sag Harbor, then got behind the wheel, police said.
Timberlake initially pleaded not guilty. Three months later, he changed his tune.
Dressed in a black shirt, black sweater, brown pants, and a pearl necklace on Friday, he made a statement in front of reporters and photographers.
“I try to hold myself to a very high standard of myself. And this was not that,” Timberlake said. “I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision, but I’ve had some time to reflect on that.”
Surrounded by security and his lawyer, he then admitted to making a poor choice when he got behind the wheel while intoxicated.
“What I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There are so many alternatives – call a friend, take an Uber, there are many travel apps, take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have,” he said.
As part of his plea deal, Timberlake will be required to make a public service announcement about the dangers of driving while impaired, pay a $500 fine and complete 25 to 40 hours of community service at a nonprofit of his choice.
Watch Justin Timberlake make his comments in the video below: