The tour — yes, that tour — was all Justin Timberlake could talk about on his good friend Jimmy Fallon’s talk show Monday night.
He didn’t once mention his drunk driving incident or plea deal, prompting swift backlash on social media.
The 43-year-old singer and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” host shared an Instagram clip of the pair’s conversation where they discussed Timberlake’s Forget Tomorrow World Tour and that Fallon, 49, is going to the upcoming Brooklyn show.
Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon. NBC
The comments section of the clip became swarmed with fans poking fun at how Timberlake mentioned his tour when he got pulled over for drunk driving in the Hamptons over the summer.
“What tour?” one fan asked.
“Thank god it didn’t ruin the tour,” someone else wrote.
Justin Timberlake’s mug shot. SAG HARBOR POLICE DEPARTMENT/AFP via Getty Images
There were also jokes about Timberlake’s DWI.
“Make sure he doesn’t drive himself,” a fan said.
“Ask him how the driving is going…” another comment read.
Justin Timberlake on “The Tonight Show.” NBC
Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon. NBC
“Just don’t let him drive you there, Jimmy,” a third person commented.
Timberlake also faced criticism on X (formerly Twitter) after his “Tonight Show” appearance.
“Justin Timberlake being on Jimmy Fallon with no shame and getting off with basicly a parking ticket is privilege at it’s finest!!” a fan tweeted.
Even the YouTube comments on the interview were harsh towards the “SexyBack” singer.
“Sad he had a chance to address it but refused to remind a national audience to not drink & drive but did not,” one user wrote.
Justin Timberlake on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” NBC
“Wow no mention of his recent DUI at all?? Couldn’t get a bigger elephant in the room if you tried,” a different person said.
Another comment read, “What? This is lame. It’s awkward at first because Jimmy knows Justin’s reputation has tanked. I would respect this more if Justin just addressed the elephant in the room.”
Timberlake was pulled over in the early hours of June 18 after Sag Harbor police alleged he blew a stop sign and was swerving out of his lane. He then refused three times to take a breathalyzer test, police alleged.
Justin Timberlake at a Sag Harbor courthouse on September 13. T E MCMORROW/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
He infamously told the cop who arrested him, “This is going to ruin the tour.’’
The 24-year-old cop — who didn’t recognize the former *NSYNC member — responded, “What tour?”
The singer replied, “The World Tour.”
Justin Timberlake’s car before his arrest. Hamptons.com/MEGA
Timberlake’s tour began in April and will conclude next June. He announced on “The Tonight Show” that he added nine more shows for the fall.
On Friday, Timberlake appeared in court in Sag Harbor and agreed to plead guilty to driving while alcohol impaired (DWAI), a lesser charge than the DWI count he faced.
The deal involves a $500 fine, $260 surcharge and 25 hours of community service. The judge also suspended his license for 90 days.
Justin Timberlake makes a public apology after his DWI plea deal. Brigitte Stelzer
As part of his plea, Timberlake made a public apology outside the courthouse.
“This is a mistake that I made but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake,” he said. “Even one drink — don’t get behind the wheel of the car.”
During the three-minute address to the media, Timberlake admitted that while “I try to hold myself to a very high standard — this was not that.”
“There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber. There are so many travel apps. Take a taxi,” he went on. “I guess in closing, I’d like to say we could all be more safe out there. I’m going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part. Thank you.”
