Justin Timberlake’s summer scandal appeared to be referenced in the season 2 premiere of ‘Elsbeth’. The CBS police procedural dramedy subtly poked fun at Timberlake’s DWI arrest during a light-hearted exchange between its main characters.
In the episode, Elsbeth Tascioni, played by Carrie Preston, and NYPD officer Kaya Blanke, portrayed by Carra Patterson, are seen walking through Manhattan, lamenting the lack of high-profile cases recently.
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Their conversation takes a comedic turn when Blanke remarks, “Oh, they’re all in Martha’s Vineyard, Tuscany… driving drunk in Sag Harbor,” causing the two characters to share a knowing laugh before moving on with their investigation.
This line seemingly alludes to Timberlake’s arrest in Sag Harbor, where he was charged with driving while intoxicated after running a stop sign. The ‘Selfish’ singer later took a plea deal and admitted guilt to a lesser charge of driving while impaired.
He addressed the court, expressing regret, saying, “I did not live up to the standard I hold myself to,” and acknowledged the values he was raised on, noting his influential platform. The episode’s subtle jab comes as Timberlake continues his ‘Forget Tomorrow’ World Tour, which has been drawing significant attention and is expected to be one of the major tours of the year.
Despite the legal setback, Timberlake has resumed his public life and remains focused on his music and performances.The moment in ‘Elsbeth ‘adds a playful twist to the real-life drama, blending humour with the characters’ banter, while indirectly referencing a major pop culture incident.
-Sushmita Sarkar