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Busting bad dish!

Justin Timberlake Sorry For “Distasteful” Wedding Video Featuring Homeless People

Truth rating: 10

(GettyImages)

Justin Timberlake has penned a lengthy apology for the distasteful video featuring homeless people which a friend made for his and Jessica Biels wedding week in Italy.

The singer-actor took to his personal website to apologize for the clip, which he says was shot by one his pals without Timberlake’s knowledge.

Timberlake writes, “I don’t live my life making fun of people (unless, of course, I’m making fun of myself on SNL)… Especially, those who are less fortunate or those in need.”

He adds, “I had no knowledge of [the video's] existence. I had absolutely ZERO contribution to it,” and clarifies that the footage was “NOT shown at my wedding.”

Timberlake continues, “My friends are good people. This was clearly a lapse in judgment which I’m sure no one who is reading this is exempt from. But, I don’t believe it was made to be insensitive.”

Still, he notes, “I think we can all agree that it was distasteful.”

The star concludes by saying, “P.S. You can bet your ass that I’m having my friend do at least 100 hours of community service… Boom.”

Check out the FULL LETTER below, and tell us what you think.

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AN OPEN LETTER

To my family, friends, and fans:

The last time I wrote a letter like this, it was when I had the good fortune of attending a once in a lifetime experience by sharing an evening with some of America’s finest at the Marine Corps Ball about a year ago. I was so moved by that night, I wanted to share it with everyone. Unfortunately, this letter holds a different kind of weight for me.

Normally, as some of you know, I am (by nature) a pretty private person. So, I don’t really take it upon myself to comment on things that so often go misunderstood or something that has even shed any kind of dark light on what was and will always be one of the most special weeks of my life. But, in light of the recent events, I can’t fight the urge to clarify my thoughts and feelings on what has been a very upsetting portrayal of the people closest to me and myself. It’s not who I am as a professional or as a man.

I can’t help but think of one of the many great life lessons my Grandfather has taught me… He told me when I was younger that “Sometimes, you are confronted with challenges in life that perhaps are not your own. And, when those moments arise, the right thing for a man to do is accept that responsibility, whatever it may be, and face it with honesty and humility.”

So, I’m taking his advice. If for no other reason, than to clear the air so no one has to ever wonder how I feel about it.

I’d like to start off by saying that I don’t live my life making fun of people (unless, of course, I’m making fun of myself on SNL)… Especially, those who are less fortunate or those in need. I grew up with a family and community that instilled ideals in me like hard work, honesty and empathy. As a matter of fact, growing up in Tennessee, I was always taught that we as people, no matter what your race, sex, or stature may be, are equal. We have a saying there that “Everyone puts their pants on the same way(maybe this saying doesn’t apply to guys who wear kilts. Although, I’m sure they put theirs on the same way too…)”

As it pertains to this silly, unsavory video that was made as a joke and not in any way in mockery:

1. I had no knowledge of its existence. I had absolutely ZERO contribution to it.

2. My friends are good people. This was clearly a lapse in judgment which I’m sure no one who is reading this is exempt from. But, I don’t believe it was made to be insensitive. More so, I think it was made as a joke on me not having that many friends attending my own wedding(which IS kind of funny if you think about it).

3. Like many silly rumors that I have been made aware of about the week: It was NOT shown at my wedding.

4. I think we can all agree that it was distasteful, even though that was not it’s intention.

Once again, in the world that we live in where everyone thinks that they know everything, I want to be very clear… I am NOT defending the video. I agree with the overall consensus. But, to use another “pants” analogy… It seems that these days, misconception gets around the world before the actual truth even wakes up and gets it’s pants on.

I want to say that, on behalf of my friends, family, and associative knuckleheads, I am deeply sorry to anyone who was offended by the video. Again, it was something that I was not made aware of. But, I do understand the reaction and, by association, I am holding myself accountable.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts. It really is a blessing to be able to speak directly to my true fans so that you can know exactly where I stand.

-Justin

P.S. You can bet your ass that I’m having my friend do at least 100 hours of community service… Boom.


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  • peppermintulip

    That was very nice of Justin. Probably something shown at his bachelors party. We all have stupid friends. At least I know I do. They’re still my friends though even though they’ve done some dumb things during our friendship. Shame Timberlake had to have his beautiful honeymoon phase interrupted by this.

  • Regina1180

    It was a video shown at the wedding, which means that someone that was at the wedding leaked it to Gawker.

  • Rico

    He says it was NOT shown at his wedding (i dont know who tells the truth but Gawker isnt one of the most reliable sites),you can clearly see that he wrote this appologie and not his PR team,and i believe that he didnt aprove of this video,he has been in the industry for a million years,so i dont believe he is that stupid,his friends are stupid,so i believe this appologie (sorry for my bad english).And the fact that he takes responsibility for something he didnt do,makes him a good man.

  • The only SiSSi

    Beautiful message from Justin… Just a shame that he had to do so because some stupid “sources” had to leak something they didn’t even see. With a “so-called” friend, who needs enemies?
    They are nice people, have always been…

  • peppermintulip

    Yeah, it clearly says it wasn’t shown at his wedding. After reading it again I dont’ think Justin even knew about it until this leaked to the internet. His friend probably made it then decided not to show it to him.

  • Regina1180

    Ok I see now where he said that it wasn’t shown at the wedding. That’s good news. But still, someone in his circle leaked it to Gawker.

  • mslewis

    I have a feeling Justin never saw this video. At days-long parties like this one, sometimes people do things that are very stupid and the groom or bride know nothing about it. The person who did it probably thought it would be hilarious for people to see one evening. Apparently this “friend” neither told Justin about it nor showed the video to him. What I’m happy about is that there was someone there with a conscious who decided it just wasn’t right and decided to do something about it. I say, good for them.(I haven’t seen it but I heard that each homeless person was paid $40 for their participation. At least they got something but, still, the whole thing is totally tasteless and I’m glad this person has been called out for it.) Justin did the right thing by posting this letter. Now, I hope it just dies and we don’t have to hear about it again. I’m not much of a Timberlake fan but I don’t think he is as insensitive as these reports made him out to be.

  • D. Martin

    Justin Timberlake — You’re a class act. You did not have to do any kind of letter but you did it in such as way as to NOT defend the video but still defend your friends. You did it with grace and understanding and you’re right — we all have lapses in judgement.

  • Saba

    I agree apolgizing for the video was the classy thing to do that said I really hope that justin re evualtes his realtionship with his “stupid” friends now that he is married. Best of luck to the newly wed couple

  • Curious

    Sorry, not buying it. Every single time this douche is involved in something scandalous he blames it on the other parties and still has a way of making fun of others when they are down. Remember Britney and Janet anyone? Now he is personally knocking his friend down one notch. Justin go put your dick back in the box. You suck!

  • dfsfd

    Well i believe he didn’t see the video. You can’t help what others do. I also don’t think he was knocking down his friend. It was already said that his friend made the video way before. What he dose need to do is recheck his friends.

  • Curious

    I get the friend did it to poke fun at Timbercock & Jessica and how much they spent on the wedding. Rather than acting like he had ZERO knowledge and thought the entire thing was in poor taste he should spend the time volunteering with his friend at a homeless shelter.

  • Christopher

    So i guess you type this wile you are,volunteering at the homeless shelter?,because if not then you are a hipocrite, so get away from you computer and volunteer (like i do)you are clearly not a fan of him ,you blame him for Britney (who cheated on him) you blame him for Janet (i dont know why,but whatever) Im not a huge fan of him.But him taking responsability for something he knew nothing about,deserves respect. I hate people who judge this guy,but are to lazy to volunteer themselves.JT isnt responsible for the actions of his friend….

  • Suzan

    Knocking down his friend??….Justin is holding himself accountable for this,and this was not even his fault.You clearly are a Justin hater (because you are defending his friend,who is the person who made the tape and is the one who is responsible for this) But this was a very honest letter.

  • Landon

    You defend his friend??????? he was the one who made the tape! Timberlake knew nothing about it…. why dont you volunteer at a homeless shelter?

  • Curious

    Since you don’t know me, you have no idea what charitable stuff I do. I am absolutely not a fan of him. Look at the pic of him with his beautiful bride. It says it all. Who upstages their bride? I said it b4 and I’ll say it again, he’s douchetastic.

  • Curious

    I am not defending the friend. From what I’ve read, the tape was not meant to be derogatory towards homeless people but a poke at the cost of the wedding. Either way, the friend sounds like an ahole too. Who says that I haven’t volunteered at a homeless shelter?

  • Lisa

    LOL you blaming him for the choice that PEOPLE magazine made? (using this cover) wow……seeing much hate you have,i think that you are the one who is the douche.

  • Alex

    I dont believe you volunteered at a homeless shelter,you are just saying that because people called you a hypocrite….stop hating and do something possitive.

  • Curious

    People..(kneepads) the one magazine that goes through celebs publicists and agents for approvals. Yep. Call me a douche, I don’t care. I still think he’s a Timberdick, douchebag, upstaging ass. lol

  • Curious

    What are we, friends? I don’t care what you believe about me.

  • Quin

    Get off your high horse. I don’t believe you have done any volunteering! See how that works? No one here knows each other or their character. People are allowed an opinion without being branded an uncaring hypocrite. You and anyone else here are no better then each other. Grow up, and learn that people are allowed to have an opinion. It doesn’t make your opinion correct just because you make out that your a better person.

  • Alex

    And Boone cares what you think of them.

  • Carla

    WTF is wrong with you @alex is defending you,and you are mad at him for doing that?you really need anger-managemnent,you sound like a very unpleasant person

  • Landon

    So people want JT to apologize for something his friend did?,thats ridiculous ,people were searching for something to attack JT,and they found it (why do you think they waited with the release of the video,untill the day JT released his weddingpics?) Its sad ,that people attack him for something his friend did.Yes the video was horible and awful but his friend should have apologized.

  • Curious

    Thanks Quin.

  • Curious

    Alex did not defend me and I’m not mad at anyone on here. Where have I attacked anyone here personally? My opinions were about JT.

  • Curious

    Who’s Boone?

  • sick of Justin

    You Timberlake defenders are in for a very rude awakeing, in other words you JJBers need to go back to the JJB board and just stop. This is guy is a major douchebag always has been. His friend is married to his cousin who approved the video and yes the video was seen at the wedding and it was not stopped. This guy is a liar and it will be proven when the other celebs who attended the wedding distance themselves from this piece of whitetrash. Just like his real estate cousin in law and wife, Justin is complete Tenn Trash.

  • Trash Justin

    Man if you believe anything that fucker Timberflake says you are one dumb person. Timberflake or douchebag as many people see him now is quickly becoming a joke even in Hollywood they hate him. And yes those folks in Hollywood are loving this because now they can distance themselves from timberfuck and blame it on the video. Get over it, nobody but delusional white middle age women who deseperately trying to hang to their youth like this peice of trash,

  • augustj01

    That hilarious you calling someone dumb yet you are the one using the derogatory language. You are the one looking like lesser person. You are a great role model for kids. *rolls eyes*

  • augustj01

    Were you at wedding?

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