Justin Timberlake faced a major setback when he was taken into custody on DWI-related charges in the Hamptons in New York last month.
An expert in public relations has highlighted the potential enduring consequences of the arrest and Timberlake's "irresponsible" behavior on various aspects of the singer's life, from his professional endeavors to his relationships.
On June 17, the former NSYNC band member was arrested and detained in Sag Harbor for allegedly driving while drunk. Timberlake encountered police twice that night, receiving a warning before being apprehended shortly after. The arrest sparked a flurry of headlines, memes, and jokes across various social media platforms.
In a recent interview with The Sun, Eric Schiffer, the chairman of Los Angeles-based Reputation Management Consultants, shared his views on the potential impact of the "SexyBack" hitmaker's DWI arrest on his reputation, career, and marriage to Jessica Biel.
Schiffer expressed concerns about the lasting repercussions of the legal troubles, suggesting that the effects on the Timberlake's reputation could extend for a significant period, possibly lasting between six months to a year.
"It's a bloodbath to Justin's credibility," Schiffer said. "It can mean carnage to brand deals and a psychological severing of how brands, or people, how fans, might respect him."
The PR expert continued, "Moving forward, especially those who are now moms, or those who understand how irresponsible he was."
Schiffer also suggested how Timberlake would be able to get through this debacle without losing the goodwill his fanbase.
"He can manage through this with the right resolution in the case and appropriate commentary at the right time to put this into context," he explained. "But at this point, he hasn't so it leaves a lot of questions open and it drives a lot of anger for people that see him as a further shameless Hollywood prima donna that is out of touch and can work the justice system."
According to Schiffer, fans usually feel that celebrities and the wealthy behave as if they are exempt from the rules that govern society. This perception can lead to many issues, and Timberlake seems to be leveraging this dynamic to his advantage, much to the chagrin of some Americans.
Biel has shown support to her husband by accompanying him to his concerts following the incident, but Schiffer is concerned that the arrest may introduce strains that could potentially lead to a split.
"Any relationship under severe stress, especially if he does have a drinking problem, can create spontaneous combustion," the PR expert told the outlet.
Schiffer also addressed Timberlake's viral comment that his arrest would "ruin the tour," predicting that it could be a "serious blow" to his ongoing "Forget Tomorrow" world tour.
"They know it's a potential tour-killer, and if you want to nuke a tour, have people feel like they can't respect him or that he's irresponsible," the expert explained. "And especially parents who might want to expose their kids. How could they possibly do that? It's a serious blow and one that mangled I think the tour momentum at a time where he needs its big time."
These remarks coincide with the postponement of Timberlake's arraignment until Aug. 2.
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