Billy Joel has spoken out about Justin Timberlake’s arrest after the music legend was spotted having lunch at the same hotel where the pop star, 43, was eating prior to the incident.
Over dinner at The American Hotel on Tuesday, the day after Timberlake’s arrest, 75-year-old Joel spoke briefly with area reporters.
‘Judge not, lest ye be judged. I don’t know him that well so I have no comment,” the hitmaker said PIX11 news before jumping on his light green Vespa and driving away.
In another video circulating on social media, the reporter asks Joel if he visits the location often, to which he responds, “When I’m here, yes.”
The popular eatery is also where the Piano Man enjoyed dinner more than twenty years ago, after which Joel crashed his car into a tree on a Sag Harbor road.
Billy Joel has spoken out about Justin Timberlake’s arrest after the music legend was spotted having lunch at the same hotel where the pop star was eating prior to the incident
Over dinner at The American Hotel on Tuesday, Joel, 75, spoke briefly to area reporters about Timberlake’s arrest
At the time of his infamous crash, Joel was believed to have an alcohol problem, but he was never charged with driving under the influence, despite several crashes in the Hamptons.
At the time the New York Post reported that sources at The American Hotel said Joel had several glasses of wine at dinner before leaving in his car.
However, his publicist vehemently denied that report, saying, “I’m sure his other tablemates were drinking, but not him. He abstained.’
Joel has owned a property in Sag Harbor since 2002 and spent his childhood on Long Island.
Meanwhile, Timberlake was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning for allegedly driving under the influence after a night out with friends at The American Hotel.
According to police, he was arrested after running a stop sign behind the wheel of his BMW X7.
Local officers reportedly followed the pop star and saw him crossing the road, prompting police to pull him over.
Once he stopped, officers noticed the singer had “glassy eyes” and a strong odor of alcohol coming from him, according to a police report.
Pictured: Billy Joel seen enjoying lunch at The American Hotel the day after Timberlake was arrested
The likes of Bono, Billy Joel and Truman Capote have all been spotted at the renowned hotel
The father-of-two performed a field sobriety test and was asked to take a breathalyzer test, which he refused.
Timberlake was charged with DWI, running a stop sign and failure to stay in lane.
He is due in court on July 26 after being released without bail.
Timberlake had his driving license suspended in New York State for refusing the breath test.
Timberlake’s lawyer has since broken his silence on the singer’s arrest and suggested there is more to the story.
‘Mr. Burke looks forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake against these allegations,” said a statement from attorney Edward Burke’s office.
‘Mr. Burke will have a lot to say at the right time; he is currently awaiting full discovery by the district attorney’s office.”
Reports emerged that Timberlake told officers at the scene that he had “just one martini” before “following his friends home.”
The owner of The American Hotel, known as a magnet for the rich and famous, reportedly told TMX that Timberlake will still be welcome at his bar.
The chic hotel dates back to 1846 when it was first used as a guest house, before whaling captain William Freeman established a bar and restaurant.
And the establishment has hosted countless A-listers past and present, including Bono and Truman Capote.