JUSTIN Timberlake said sorry following his shock Sag Harbor arrest and told his behind-the-scenes team: The show must go on.
The U.S. Sun has spoken to a source close to the Cry Me a River singer who is adamant his world tour won't be affected, despite being arrested by cops in the Hamptons for driving under the influence and jumping a stop sign.
He is due back in court on July 26, the same date as the start of his world tour in Poland, with doubts mounting about the 43-year-old's ability to perform as the controversy swirled.
The U.S. Sun's insider, who works with Timberlake's entourage, says the former *NSYNC star spoke during a long conference call in the hours after the shock arrest.
Our source says members of Timberlake's crew were worried about the future and the incident "wasn't the best thing to happen" considering his hectic summer schedule.
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But Timberlake, who was released on bail, was described as a "very solid leader," impressing everyone by fronting up and "owning" the situation.
"He made sure that this arrest didn’t create tension in the crew, he reacted like a boss, like someone who owns his s**t," said the insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"He said sorry for bringing this kind of attention to the team. Everyone was happy to hear what he said."
Timberlake's attorney, Edward Burke, has vowed to "vigorously" defend his client who refused a breathalyzer test and was described on a charging document as having "bloodshot and glassy" eyes after being arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
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Cops also wrote there was a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath", his speech was slurred and he struggled with some sobriety tests.
New York state laws could see the 10-time Grammy winner jailed for a year, hit with a fine, or lose his license for six months.
He is scheduled to play two shows in Chicago this weekend, before rocking New York City's iconic Madison Square Gardens next Tuesday.
One of his tour coordinators, who also spoke to The U.S. Sun on the condition of anonymity, said crew members found out about the arrest just "hours" after the event, and feared the tour would be canceled.
It's the latest problem for Timberlake to deal with.
Ticket sales for his tour have been slow, his latest single hasn't hit the heights, and close pals have been advising him to think about taking a break.
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Meanwhile, a show in Columbia, South Carolina on June 8 was canned without explanation.
He's determined, however, to keep going.
"We were quickly told nothing was going to change," said the second insider.
Timberlake, according to the source, was in "great spirits" and told everyone "with a big smile that he was sorry" before admitting "he shouldn't have done that."
"We are 110% motivated to put everything behind us and put on some fantastic shows," added the tour coordinator.
"He is a responsible guy who made a mistake."
The U.S. Sun reached out to Timberlake's representatives but didn't immediately hear back.
