Justin Timberlake Speaks Publicly For First Time Since DWI Arrest: 'It's Been A Tough Week'

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Justin Timberlake returned to the stage last night for the first time since being arrested for an alleged DWI while hanging out in the Hamptons.

It hasn't been an easy couple of days for the former NSYNC star, who reportedly had privately apologized to his touring members and crew for the unwanted negative attention.

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"It's been a tough week," the 43-year-old pop star told Chicago's United Center crowd.

"But you’re here, and I’m here, and nothing can change this moment right now. I know sometimes I’m hard to love, but you keep on loving me and I love you right back," Timberlake continued.

Friday night's show was the first time he had addressed his arrest after Timberlake refused to take a breathalyzer despite being asked on three different occasions by Suffolk County, New York Police after he failed a field sobriety test.

"He [Timberlake] had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests," according to the officer's accounts in court documents. 

JT had told officers that he had "one martini and was following his friend's home", according to police bodycam footage.

Justin Timberlake was arrested for allegedly Driving Whlie Intoxicated this past week in the Hamptons. . (Photo by Sag Harbor Police Department via Getty Images)


JT was subsequently arrested and held overnight for arraignment before he was released without bail and has a scheduled court appointment on July 26th. 

The Internet and social media, needless to say, were not so kind to Justin as he has been highly criticized and ripped for his DWI blunder. Timberlake had already been experiencing negative backlash after ex-girlfriend Britney Spears's recent memoir ‘The Woman In Me', in which she didn't portray Timberlake in the most positive light based on his past actions.

We'll see what happens to Justin and his reputation… will he fall into the abyss of "former celebrity musicians," or will he be able to persevere through his alcohol-related charges, just like Morgan Wallen did a few weeks ago?