Gayle King defends Justin Timberlake after DWI arrest, calls him 'great guy' who knows he made 'mistake'

SAG HARBOR, NEW YORK: Gayle King has come to the defense of Justin Timberlake following his recent DWI-related arrest, asserting that the incident doesn't reflect his true character.

During Wednesday's episode of 'CBS Mornings,' the 69-year-old anchor passionately defended the 'Mirrors' singer after discussing his recent charges, as reported by Page Six.

Gayle King on Justin Timberlake’s DWI Arrest

"Justin Timberlake is a really, really great guy," King stated. "This was clearly a mistake. I bet nobody knows it more than he does."

Despite recognizing the severity of the "stupid" mistake, King maintained that Timberlake is neither "irresponsible" nor "reckless." She stressed that although "this is not a good thing," people should refrain from judging the 10-time Grammy winner too harshly, echoing Billy Joel's sentiment about avoiding hasty condemnation.

However, King did not minimize the seriousness of the situation. She emphasized that "there is never any excuse for" driving under the influence and urged people to use alternative transportation options, such as cabs, friends, or ride-hailing services if they find themselves in similar circumstances.

The 43-year-old 'Selfish' singer was pulled over by police early Tuesday morning after a night out with friends at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor, NY. According to the criminal complaint, the arresting officer observed Timberlake "failing to stop at a posted stop sign" and "failing to keep to the right side of the road" multiple times before initiating the stop.

Although Timberlake claimed to have had "one martini," an eyewitness told Page Six that he was seen consuming another patron's drink at one point during the night.

The arresting officer noted that Timberlake's eyes were "bloodshot and glassy" and detected a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage" on his breath. Additionally, Timberlake exhibited signs of impairment, including unsteady footing, slowed speech, and poor performance on field sobriety tests.

Despite the arresting officer's detailed observations, sources indicate the young officer did not recognize Timberlake, who refused a breathalyzer test three times. "He didn’t recognize him or his name," an insider revealed.

Another source shared that Timberlake, concerned about the impact on his career, muttered, "This is going to ruin the tour." The officer responded, "What tour?" to which Timberlake replied, "The world tour."

Following his arrest, Timberlake was charged with one count of driving while intoxicated and cited for two traffic violations. He was placed in handcuffs but released the same morning. Timberlake's lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., told Page Six that they "look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake against these allegations."

Gayle King faces backlash for defending Justin Timberlake after DWI arrest

Gayle King has sparked a wave of online criticism following her defense of Justin Timberlake after his recent DWI-related arrest. During Wednesday's episode of CBS Mornings, King asserted that the incident does not reflect Timberlake's true character, describing him as a "really, really great guy" and insisting he is not "irresponsible" or "reckless."

This defense did not sit well with many viewers, who took to social media to express their displeasure.

One user wrote, "Tf? Yes he is!!! What if he got into a wreck and hurt someone? What then? Smh sit down." Another wrote the sentiment, saying, "Getting a DWI is the epitome of being irresponsible." [sic]

The backlash continued with another comment, stating, "WTF…what a joke, that’s not funny!"

Others pointed out Timberlake's means to avoid such a situation, with one user stating, "Everyone makes bad choices, but he has the means to get an Uber or even a private driver much easier than anyone else. It could have ended up way worse, and he wasn't thinking of anyone but himself."

"Wtf she talking about, drinking and driving kills and he's not irresponsible...unreal Gayle King," another user wrote.

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