The recent arrest of Justin Timberlake for driving while intoxicated has sparked a wave of memes, largely due to the arresting officer reportedly not recognizing the pop star. The incident occurred on June 18, when Timberlake, 43, was pulled over on Long Island, New York, after leaving The American Hotel in Sag Harbor. According to Page Six, the officer was unaware of Timberlake’s fame or his ongoing Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
A source revealed that Timberlake muttered, “This is going to ruin the tour,” to which the officer responded, “What tour?” Timberlake then clarified, “The world tour.” This exchange quickly went viral, with social media users finding humor in the situation. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “I already feel like ‘this is going to ruin the tour. the world tour’ is gonna enter my vocabulary for the next six months.” Another user quipped, “Gonna start saying ‘this is going to ruin the tour’ as a response to every slight inconvenience in my life.”
The memes didn’t stop there. Some referenced Timberlake’s involvement in the Trolls franchise, while others drew parallels to Adam Driver’s infamous wall punch scene in Marriage Story. Many also joked about Timberlake’s field sobriety tests, adding a layer of humor to the otherwise serious situation.
Timberlake’s arrest took place in the early hours of June 18, after he had been “hanging out with friends” at the hotel. He was charged with one count of DWI and received two citations—one for running a stop sign and another for failing to stay in his lane. According to the arrest report, Timberlake told authorities, “I had one martini and I followed my friends home.” The report also noted that Timberlake’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests.
The day after the arrest, Timberlake’s attorney, Edward Burke Jr., released a statement saying, “Mr. Burke looks forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake against these allegations. He will have a lot to say at the appropriate time. He is currently awaiting full discovery from the DA’s office.” Timberlake has not yet made a public statement about the incident. He has upcoming tour dates in Chicago on June 21 and 22, and in New York City on June 25 and 26.
The internet’s reaction to Timberlake’s arrest has been swift and relentless. Memes flooded social media, with users poking fun at the situation. One popular meme featured a clip of Timberlake dancing, captioned, “Sir, I’m gonna need you to step out of the vehicle and walk in a straight line.” Another meme compared Timberlake to President Joe Biden, who has a history of appearing disoriented in public.
Despite his loyal fan base, many found it hard to justify Timberlake’s actions. Some users even referenced his past controversies, including his infamous Super Bowl performance with Janet Jackson and his publicized breakup with Britney Spears. One meme read, “Britney Spears fans are taking this opportunity to pray on Timberlake’s downfall, reminding everyone which side of history they’re on.”
Others joked about Timberlake’s wife, Jessica Biel, and her potential reaction to the news. One user created a pun around Timberlake’s former band, *NSYNC, while another referenced his hit song “Suit & Tie,” noting that he was not dressed in his signature style when pulled over.
The incident has not only provided fodder for memes but also highlighted Timberlake’s enduring presence in pop culture. Despite the seriousness of the charges, the internet’s reaction has been overwhelmingly humorous, turning a potentially career-damaging event into a viral sensation.
