The release of Justin Timberlake’s DWI footage has revealed that a friend attempted to use his celebrity status to influence authorities.
The singer was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Sag Harbor, New York, in June 2024, but the footage only recently surfaced following a legal back-and-forth between the singer and law enforcement.
Only a partially redacted version of the video was released after Justin Timberlake’s legal team and the Sag Harbor Police Department reached an agreement.
Justin Timberlake’s Female Pal Tried To Invoke His Celebrity Status
In the wake of the release of Justin Timberlake’s DWI video, more light has been shed on the incident, revealing bizarre behavior from a female friend who appeared on the scene.
According to reports, the friend, named Estee Stanley, arrived just as the singer was being escorted to the police car and allegedly tried to influence the officers by invoking Timberlake’s celebrity status.
In one moment, she can be seen asking, “You’re arresting Justin Timberlake right now?!” seemingly in an attempt to intervene or delay the process.
When the officers refused to budge, Stanley asked if she could give Timberlake his phone. Since this was against protocol, the officers initially denied her request.
Undeterred, Stanley pleaded in a playful manner, saying, “Can you guys please just do me a favor ’cause you loved ‘Bye Bye Bye’ or ‘SexyBack’? Do me one favor!”
Surprisingly, her efforts worked, and the officers accepted her offer before whisking away Timberlake.
The Former NSYNC Band Member Tried To Block The Release Of His DWI Video
The release of the footage comes just weeks after Timberlake sought to prevent it from being made public, following a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for its disclosure.
The singer filed a petition with the Suffolk County Supreme Court, arguing that the video “contains personally identifying information and private details that are not germane to any law enforcement action of public concern.”
“The footage at issue depicts Petitioner in an acutely vulnerable state during a roadside encounter with law enforcement, capturing intimate details of Petitioner’s physical appearance, demeanor, speech, and conduct during field sobriety testing, the subsequent arrest, and Petitioner’s confinement following arrest over the next several hours,” Timberlake argued further in the document.
At the time, the “Cry Me a River” crooner also complained that the release of the video would cause him “irreparable” harm.
“The harm from public exposure—stigma, harassment, reputational injury, and the permanent loss of privacy—is immediate and irreparable,” the doc also read.
Justin Timberlake Was Worried The ‘Messy’ Footage Would Ruin His Good-Guy Image
Before the release of the arrest video, a Timberlake source claimed that the pop singer was especially worried about how the video could impact his good-guy image.
“It’s the tone. The entitlement. The attitude. It’s messy,” an insider told Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop. “And it clashes with the image he’s been selling.”
“His brand is polished and controlled,” another source claimed. “If this footage drops, people will see an unfiltered moment that undercuts all of that.”
A third insider pointed out that Timberlake understands how harsh the public can be and hoped to prevent any further damage to his reputation.
“He knows the internet never forgets,” the source shared. “One viral clip could follow him forever.”
The Singer And Sag Harbor Police Reached An Agreement On DWI Video Release
When the case was heard in court in an impromptu hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Joseph Farneti, urged Timberlake and the police department to mediate and see if a resolution could be reached.
He also placed an injunction preventing its release until the police department submitted the necessary documents supporting the FOIL request by those who requested the footage be made public.
It appears that Justin’s legal team and the Sag Harbor Police Department were able to reach an agreement, as a partially redacted video was what was released. The released video was almost 20 minutes long, compared to the initial eight hours of footage that had been recorded of the DWI.
Despite the release of the video, Timberlake appears to have had a small victory, as a joint filing with Sag Harbor officials acknowledged that the released footage did not violate privacy laws.
Justin Timberlake Was Fined For His DWI Incident After Entering A Guilty Plea
For his DWI incident, Timberlake entered a guilty plea in September 2024. The plea carried minimal punishment, which included a $500 fine, 25 hours of community service, and a three-month suspension of his driver’s license.
The singer also expressed remorse for being involved in the incident, recording a public message in which he acknowledged his mistake and urged citizens to learn from his experience.
“This is a mistake that I’ve made, but I’m hoping whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake,” Timberlake said at the time, per Independent.
He added, “I know that I certainly have. And like I said, even one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.”
