The “CBS Mornings” co-host had some positive things to say about the pop star while acknowledging there’s “never any excuse” for drunk driving.
As Justin Timberlake weathers the ramifications of his Tuesday arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, he’s found a vocal ally in Gayle King.
On Wednesday’s episode of “CBS Mornings,” King came to Timberlake’s defense, calling the pop star a “really, really great guy” who happened to make a bad decision.
“This is clearly a mistake,” she said. “I bet nobody knows it more than he.”
Though the broadcast journalist acknowledged there’s “never any excuse” for driving while intoxicated, she noted that Timberlake was “not an irresponsible person.”
“He’s not reckless, he’s not careless,” she said. “Clearly, this is not a good thing. He knows that.”
Watch King discuss Timberlake’s arrest on “CBS Mornings” below.
Timberlake was taken into custody just before 1 a.m. Tuesday in Sag Harbor, a village in Long Island, New York, after an officer allegedly saw his BMW SUV run a stop sign and he failed to stay in his lane.
According to a statement issued by the Sag Harbor Police Department after the arrest, the officer determined Timberlake was “operating his vehicle in an intoxicated condition” after a traffic stop.
In court records obtained by CNN, the officer said Timberlake had “bloodshot and glassy” eyes and a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” coming from his breath at the time of his arrest.
Attorney Edward Burke Jr., who is representing Timberlake, told HuffPost in a statement that he plans on “vigorously defending” the artist, adding, “[Timberlake] will have a lot to say at the appropriate time.”
News of Timberlake’s arrest comes amid a professional crossroads for the singer, who is currently on a world tour. “Everything I Thought It Was,” his first album in six years, was released in March to tepid reviews.
His public image has taken a wider hit, too, as the media has reckoned with its unfair treatment of Timberlake’s ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears, following their breakup in 2002, and Janet Jackson, who faced the brunt of criticism that came after her controversial wardrobe malfunction during her and Timberlake’s 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.
