Justin Timberlake has performed his first gig since his arrest for alleged drink-driving, telling the crowd it had been a “tough week”.
The US star is currently on his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour and performed in Chicago on Friday night after being arrested earlier this week.
He told the screaming crowd: “We’ve been together through ups and downs, lefts and rights.
“It’s been a tough week, but you’re here and I’m here, and nothing can change this moment right now.”
The singer appeared emotional as he added: “I know sometimes I’m hard to love but you keep on loving me and I love you right back.”
Timberlake was in Long Island in New York state – having reportedly had dinner with friends – when he was pulled over by police in the early hours of Tuesday.
Officers said the 43-year-old had failed to pause at a stop sign and was seen not being able to stay in his lane.
Timberlake was held overnight and formally charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated) misdemeanour at Sag Harbor Village Justice Court on Tuesday morning before being released.
According to a source talking to Page Six, the officer who pulled Timberlake over “was so young that he didn’t even know” who the star was.
A second source told the celebrity news outlet that during the arrest, Timberlake said: “This is going to ruin the tour.”
Timberlake’s mugshot after his arrest. Pic: Sag Harbor/Reuters
Timberlake, who rose to fame with boyband NSYNC before finding huge success as a solo artist with hits including Like I Love You, Cry Me A River, SexyBack and Mirrors, is due to perform in Chicago again on Saturday night.
Further shows are scheduled across the US, Canada and Europe between June and December.
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According to court documents filed about the star’s arrest, there was “a strong odour of an alcoholic beverage… emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot and he performed poorly on all standardised field sobriety tests”.
Timberlake also told officers he had one martini and was following some friends home, and refused to take a breath test.
His lawyer has said he is “looking forward to vigorously defending” the singer.
Timberlake’s next court date is scheduled for 26 July.
