Fact Check: The Truth Behind Images Supposedly of Justin Timberlake's Release After DWI Arrest

Claim:

Photos genuinely depict pop singer Justin Timberlake being released from custody after his arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in 2024.

Rating:

In the early morning hours of June 18, 2024, police arrested pop singer Justin Timberlake during a traffic stop in the Hamptons. According to a statement from the Sag Harbor Police Department, officers suspected Timberlake of being intoxicated while driving and took him into custody.

The news spread quickly on social media, and after police released Timberlake at 9:30 a.m. the same day, photos began popping up on social media purporting to show the singer after his release.

Snopes investigated some of the photos to figure out if they were real, given the limited amount of time that Timberlake spent in police custody and the potential for such images to be created with artificial intelligence. We found that the following two images, shared to the r/pics Subreddit, were real, as was the jail mug shot, released by the Sag Harbor Police Department.

(Reddit user u/Lifegoesonforever)

(Reddit user u/Lifegoesonforever)

The paparazzi work quickly — we found versions of the photos posted to Reddit in articles from various celebrity magazines and tabloids. Meanwhile, Sag Harbor Police released Timberlake's mugshot later in the day he was arrested, confirmed by countless versions of it available online.

We found the first photo above, depicting Timberlake walking out of the door of the police station, on the UK Tabloid Daily Mail, where it was credited to T.E. McMorrow, a local reporter.

People magazine and Us Weekly both used versions of the second photo, showing Timberlake walking through a large, garage door. Both outlets credited the photo to Matt Agudo, a photographer working for the agency Instar Images.

According to The Associated Press (AP), the 10-time Grammy winner was released without bond after being arraigned in Sag Harbor. He was charged with a driving-while-intoxicated misdemeanor, AP reported, and his next court date was scheduled for July 26.

Sources:

Cramer, Maria, and Sean Piccoli. "Justin Timberlake Is Charged With Drunken Driving in Sag Harbor." The New York Times, 18 June 2024. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/18/nyregion/justin-timberlake-arrested-dwi.html.

Hutchinson, Joe. "Justin Timberlake Seen in Handcuffs Morning after His DWI Arrest." Mail Online, 18 June 2024, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13543221/justin-timberlake-photos-handcuffs-dwi-arrest-sag-harbor.html.

Justin Timberlake Charged with Drink Driving. https://www.9news.com.au/videos/world/justin-timberlake-charged-with-drink-driving/clxlguoq300000go8d51lasja. Accessed 19 June 2024.

"Justin Timberlake Released from Custody After Appearing in Court Handcuffed Following DWI Arrest." Peoplemag, https://people.com/justin-timberlake-released-from-custody-after-appearing-in-court-handcuffed-following-dwi-arrest-8665211. Accessed 19 June 2024.

Simpson, Kaitlin. "Justin Timberlake's Mugshot Released Following DWI Arrest." Us Weekly, 18 June 2024, https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/justin-timberlakes-mugshot-released-following-dwi-arrest/.

u/Lifegoesonforever. "Justin Timberlake Was Released after He Was Arrested for Driving While Intoxicated in New York." R/Pics, https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1diyket/justin_timberlake_was_released_after_he_was/.

u/Mint_Perspective. "Justin Timberlake Released after Being Charged with DWI." R/Pics, https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1dix4xp/justin_timberlake_released_after_being_charged/.