Justin Timberlake’s Arresting Officer Reportedly Didn’t Know Who He Was — and the Internet Can’t Stop Laughing

https://people.com/justin-timberlake-arresting-officer-reportedly-didnt-know-who-he-was-8666456

32 comments

  1. Back in 2013 Reese Witherspoon said this to an arresting cop on a dash cam:

    “Okay, you’re about to find out who I am”

    She was totally shitfaced.

    Some of these celebs think they are a gift to us.

  2. I remember I saw on the news last night that the officer was “too young” to recognize Timberlake… I mean ouch. Not even for Justin, but for myself who was a tween during *NSYNC.

  3. Imagine thinking every person would recognize every celebrity lmao

  4. Playing dumb is my guess. Otherwise it’s hard to believe the officer is that sheltered.

  5. Arresting officer listens to Dream Theater and Meshuggah.

  6. It’s better that way. They get fair treatment instead of preferred treatment, which is what they deserve just like the rest of us plebs.

  7. I don’t think I would recognize him either. He looks like a lot of regular white guys with a short haircut and facial hair.

  8. Can someone explain to me like I’m 5 why an officer needs to recognise someone as they’re famous. It doesn’t change the law.

  10. I mean who fucking cares who he is… he drove while intoxicated. Oh wait, yeah, I remember, different rules for rich people.

  11. So, did Timberlake actually use the line “do you know who I am” as was going around the internet yesterday or is it just that this officer happened to not know who he is and that turned into Timberlake being a douche about his fame?

  12. The implicit message that the officer would act differently if he knew who he was arresting is actually offensive to the office, as it suggests some level of corruption.

    He did what he was supposed to do regardless of who the perpetrator was, and I’d like to think he’d still do the right thing of he knew Justin Timberlake. DUI are a big deal and kill a shit ton of innocent people, punishment should be harsher.

  13. Do you know why I pulled you over, sir? Wait! Are you the guy from Glee?!

  14. “Oh shit, wait! Damn, you’re looking GREAT for your age, Mr. Humperdinck”

  16. Justin should’ve said he was the voice actor for Branch from Trolls. 

  17. I don’t love cops, don’t hate JT, but this is kind of great.

  20. Not sure why a police officer should care who the person is they are arresting if they broke the law. Assuming cop is doing their job properly.

  21. Lot of brain-dead people here who didn’t read the article at all, commenting on celebrity privilege.

    The joke flew over your head. Holy crap.

  22. I have an uncle that in went to University of Memphis back in the day and he was front door security for his frat at a party they were throwing. JT tried to enter and when he was told absolutely not he pulled the “don’t you know who I am?” card. My uncle definitely did not know nor cared who he was then either, and they are the same age.

  24. Pretty sure if I said do you know who I am people would just think I was so out of my mind that I forgot who I was.

    I think that is the only acceptable way to see that question.

  25. The internet really overestimates the fame of so many people. Sure, they are super famous in their various niches but there’s so many people just not into entertainment news or music.

  26. “Remember my song?!” “Who the fuck are you?”

  27. I love how reddit questions cops on everything except for subjective roadside sobriety tests

  28. Let’s be honest though — would you recognize him if he was like just shopping in a a bookstore or something?

    Someone on Quora once asked, “If Leo Messi was walking on the streets of NYC, would he get noticed? Or would people sort of form a mob and beseige him for autographs and stuff?”

    A lot of respondents said no. As did I. And not just because Messi isn’t well known in the U.S., but because:

    * People in NYC are way too freaking in a hurry to notice ANYONE.
    * People in NYC do not freak out over seeing a celebrity, they’re everywhere.
    * Messi does not have any noticeable characteristics that would attract attention.

    And that goes for a lot of celebs. To get noticed on a busy street in NYC or even just a book store in Des Moines, Iowa, you would have to be someone like Hulk Hogan, or an NBA star who is 6’7″ or something. (Even Steph Curry is probably able to browse the book racks and sip his coffee in peace.)

    So it’s not really wild that he didn’t recognize him. I know, it makes a good story — “breaking news: Justin Timberlake is a Has Been! LULZ!” — but it’s not that wild.

  29. Lmao…ooof!— that’s gotta be a blow for for the ol’ ego. Let me find out JT’s got a whole new generation of ppl old enough to be cops who don’t know or care who ANY of the assorted “Back-Sink”boy-band babes were… bahahaha

  30. Can any 18-25 year olds in this thread weigh in on how common (or not) it is for someone on your age range to not know who Justin Timberlake is?

    I’m only a couple of years older than that age range and it would be wild for anyone my age to not know.

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