Justin Timberlake, the pop sensation and former NSYNC frontman, has spoken out following his guilty plea to a charge of driving while alcohol impaired. The plea deal, which saw the singer avoid a more serious drunken driving charge, resulted in Timberlake being sentenced to 25 to 40 hours of community service, as reported by the New York Post. The incident, which occurred in the Hamptons, has prompted Timberlake to reflect publicly on his actions and to urge others not to make the same mistake.

Timberlake, 43, addressed the media outside the Sag Harbor Village Justice Court on Friday morning, following his sentencing by Justice Carl Irace. In his statement, Timberlake acknowledged the gravity of his mistake and expressed a desire to use his platform to educate others on the dangers of drinking and driving.

"Many of you have been covering me for a lot of my life, and as you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard," Timberlake began. "This was not that. This was not that." His words were a candid admission that, despite his efforts to maintain a certain public image, he had fallen short in this instance.

The singer detailed the events leading up to his arrest, indicating that he was in a situation where he could have made a better choice. "I found myself in a position where I could've made a different decision," Timberlake reflected. "But I've had some time to reflect on that, and I also understand the fact that all of you here have a platform, I have a platform, we share that platform."

Timberlake then used the moment to issue a warning to others, emphasizing the importance of making the right decisions when it comes to driving under the influence. "So what I'd like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you've had one drink, don't get behind the wheel of a car," he urged. "There's so many alternatives — call a friend, take an Uber, there's many travel apps. Still, take a taxi. This is a mistake I made, but I'm hoping whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake."

The gravity of the situation was evident as Timberlake concluded his remarks with a simple, yet powerful statement: "I certainly have." His words underscored the seriousness with which he views the incident and his commitment to ensuring that others do not repeat his mistake.

The incident in question occurred on June 18, when Timberlake was pulled over by police in Sag Harbor while driving a 2025 BMW around 12:30 a.m. According to court documents obtained by NBC 4, Timberlake had run a stop sign and veered out of his lane, prompting an officer to stop him. The officer's report described Timberlake as exhibiting signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and unsteady footing, in addition to performing poorly on field sobriety tests.

Despite these observations, Timberlake's attorney, Edward Burke Jr., maintained that the singer was not intoxicated at the time of his arrest. "Justin should not have been arrested for driving while intoxicated. The police made a number of very significant errors in this case," Burke told reporters on July 26.

Ultimately, Timberlake agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of driving while alcohol impaired, a non-criminal offense. In addition to his community service, Timberlake also agreed to pay a fine as part of his plea deal.

Timberlake, who is married to actress Jessica Biel and is the father of two children, has long been a fixture in the public eye. This incident, while a blemish on his record, serves as a reminder that even those who strive to maintain a clean image can falter. However, Timberlake's willingness to own up to his mistake and use his platform to educate others is a testament to his character.