SINGER JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE has issued a public apology over a video, supposedly shown at his wedding, in which a series of homeless people offer their congratulations on his wedding to actress Jessica Biel.
The apology came after an excerpt of the video – made by LA property agent-to-the-stars Justin Huchel – was posted on Gawker, which claimed the video had been shown at Timberlake and Biel’s $6.5 million wedding in Italy last weekend.
The website had published a 20-second excerpt of the video, in spite of legal threats from Huchel, but removed it after a second legal letter.
The video featured a series of men who appeared to be homeless, and one of whom was entirely incapable of speech, being asked to send greetings to the newlyweds.
“I hope the wedding goes fine for you. My gift is in the mail,” one man had said. Another – who Gawker said appeared to have been in a McDonalds as he addressed the camera – said he wished “I could be there”.
The legal letters received by Gawker – which were posted in lieu of the video – outlined that Huchel had intended for the video to be shown as a wedding surprise, and without the singer’s knowledge.
“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,” Timberlake wrote in an open letter on his website. “It’s not who I am as a professional or as a man.”
The former N-SYNC singer said the video had not ultimately been shown at his wedding, and that while he was totally unaware of the video’s existence before it was made public, “I do understand the reaction and, by association, I am holding myself accountable”.
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).
Timberlake’s apology ended with a postscript: “You can bet your ass that I’m having my friend do at least 100 hours of community service… Boom.”
