Justin Timberlake is reportedly struggling with the end of his ‘golden boy image’ and feelings that his career is not where he hoped it would be at this point.
Following his arrest for allegedly driving while intoxicated in Sag Harbor earlier this week, sources say the 43-year-old singer has been having trouble with the lackluster album sales of his sixth record, Everything I Thought It Was, released in March.
‘The album didn’t do too well, and I don’t see Justin getting big acting roles right now,’ an insider told Page Six. ‘I just think Justin has a bad reputation in Hollywood as a bit of a jerk and a pain in the a**.’
The industry source added: ‘He’s got a bit of an ego.’
The father-of-two, who has won more than 10 Grammys since rising to fame as one of the lead vocalists for the boyband NSYNC, has endured a tough year as an artist.
Justin Timberlake is reportedly struggling with the end of his ‘golden boy image’ and feelings that his career is not where he hoped it would be at this point (seen in April 2024)
His latest single, Everything I Thought It Was, marked his first solo release not to hit the number one spot on the charts since his track, Justified, was released in 2002.
Additionally, the sales for his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour have been described as ‘lackluster.’
‘His golden boy image is definitely depleted,’ the Hollywood insider said of the musician, who is one of the most influential entertainers of the 21st century.
The source acknowledged that ‘there have been rumors around Justin’s behavior for a long time’ and ‘maybe the bubble was about to burst and this was the pin that pricked the bubble.’
‘In today’s world you have to be really dumb to drink and drive,’ the industry insider continued. ‘Justin is showing off a side that I don’t think a lot of people knew about.’
While he is best known as a pop singer, Timberlake has dabbled in acting over the years and was said to have his sights set on an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Social Network back in 2010.
The SexyBack hitmaker ended up getting a nod, five years later, for penning the single Can’t Stop the Feeling! for the animated comedy film Trolls.
Most recently, he starred in Netflix’s 2023 crime thriller, Reptile, alongside Benicio Del Toro and Alicia Silverstone.
Following his arrest for allegedly driving while intoxicated in Sag Harbor earlier this week, sources say the 43-year-old singer has been having trouble with the lackluster album sales for his sixth record, Everything I Thought It Was (seen in his 2024 mug shot)
Timberlake and his wife, Jessica Biel, rented a house in Sag Harbor for the summer, ‘like they did last year,’ according to Page Six.
Timberlake’s arrest came amid a short break in touring, following his June 15 performance in Miami and ahead of two shows in Chicago on June 21 and 22.
It was previously reported that he planned to follow through with the Chicago concerts, and now sources are indicating that fans with tickets further along his world tour route can still expect to see him perform.
The pop singer’s tour will continue through December with stops in New York City before diving farther into the US, heading over to Europe, back to Canada and then spending several more weeks in the US.
Timberlake was arrested in the tony Hamptons village of Sag Harbor in New York.
Police reportedly detected a strong stench of alcohol after pulling him over.
He refused to take a breathalyzer test at the scene, so his driving privileges have been suspended in the state of New York.
Although Justin was arraigned on the DWI charge, as well as other traffic violations, he has so far remained tight-lipped about his arrest, despite having to spend a night in jail.
He was also cited for allegedly running a stop sign and for failure to stay in his lane. Timberlake, who was released on bail, has his next court date scheduled for July 26.
Although the NSYNC singer has been keeping quiet, fans of his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears have been extremely vocal about the arrest on social media.
‘Fans are buying “Criminal” by Britney Spears after Justin Timberlake’s arrest,’ the X account Britney Stan posted on Tuesday morning, along with a clip from the the pop superstar’s music video.
‘The album didn’t do too well, and I don’t see Justin getting big acting roles right now,’ an insider told Page Six . ‘I just think Justin has a bad reputation in Hollywood as a bit of a jerk and a pain in the a**’ (seen in 2018)
Others pointed out the seeming hypocrisy of Timberlake being arrested for a DWI after allegedly urging Spears to quit drinking.
He never directly addressed the songstress, but her fans have claimed that comments he made in 2007 while accepting a Brit Award were directed at Spears.
‘Stop drinking! You know who you are. I’m speaking to you,’ he said at the time. ‘You are going to get sloppy. OK! Magazine is going to say something bad about you.’
However, Timberlake denied that the message was aimed at Spears during a later interview with GQ.
A rep for the former boy band singer claimed to Fox News that he was simply referencing ‘people in the crowd, no one in particular.’
Timberlake has been married to the actress Jessica Biel since 2012, and they share two children.
The couple share two sons: six-year-old Silas and four-year-old Phineas.