Written By Linda Sanchez // EEW Magazine Online

Gayle King, co-anchor of CBS Mornings, has found herself at the center of a firestorm after defending singer Justin Timberlake in the wake of his recent drunk driving arrest.

King's comments, in which she characterized Timberlake as "a really, really great guy" who made "a huge mistake," sparked immediate backlash from viewers who felt she was downplaying the seriousness of his actions.

During a segment on CBS Mornings, King stated, "Justin Timberlake is a really, really great guy. Listen, this is clearly a mistake. I bet nobody knows it more than he. But he's not an irresponsible person. He's not careless. He's not reckless. Clearly, this is not a good thing. He knows that."

While she emphasized that "there's never any excuse" for drunk driving, critics argued that her overall tone diminished the gravity of Timberlake's offense.

The backlash was swift and severe.

On June 18, Timberlake, who was arrested around 1 a.m. in Sag Harbor, N.Y., appeared “shell-shocked,” “bleary-eyed,” and “upset,” according to an eyewitness, as he was led in handcuffs to his arraignment. Timberlake was accompanied by his lawyer and two other individuals, but his wife of nearly 12 years, who had been filming a TV show in nearby New York City, was not present.

After King’s defense of the “Better Place” singer, on social media, many expressed outrage that she seemed to be excusing his behavior. Some questioned whether she would have been so quick to defend a less famous individual, highlighting the perceived double standard afforded to celebrities. Others felt that as a journalist, King had a responsibility to condemn drunk driving unequivocally, without mitigating factors.

Critics have also drawn parallels to King's handling of sensitive topics involving other celebrities. Specifically, in 2020, she faced harsh backlash after questioning WNBA legend Lisa Leslie about rape allegations against her friend Kobe Bryant, just days after his death.

As reported by EEW Online, King was inundated with criticism and even received death threats, with Winfrey stating that King feared for her life. The embattled journalist later expressed anger and embarrassment, stating that a clip from the interview was taken "out of context" and shared on social media by the network.

Some have noted that King seemed unwilling to extend the same grace to Bryant's memory that she has to Timberlake, who is still alive to defend himself. They argue that if King felt it was appropriate to highlight a controversial aspect of Bryant's past during a time of mourning, consistency would dictate she should also avoid downplaying Timberlake's mistakes.

When approached by TMZ, King initially seemed taken aback by the criticism, asking, "What backlash?"

However, she soon began clarifying her remarks, stating, "I said, 'I don't see him to be an irresponsible person.' I don't. But I also was in no way saying drunk driving is okay, and I also made that clear. But nobody picked up on the rest of the sentence."

King went on to express frustration with the tendency to "cancel and criticize" public figures for their blunders, saying, "I'm just sort of tired of that, that's all. I can't even say that he and I are great friends, but I just think he made a mistake, it was wrong, and he knows that. But do I think of him as reckless and irresponsible? Generally speaking, there are other people I do. I wouldn't put him in that category. That's all I was saying. But I'm never, ever, ever excusing drunk driving."

This incident marks Timberlake’s first drunk driving offense, but it is not his first alcohol-related controversy. In 2019, he apologized after being photographed holding hands with his Palmer co-star Alisha Wainwright during a night out in New Orleans, admitting, “I drank way too much that night, and I regret my behavior.”

The controversy comes at a sensitive time for King, who recently faced scrutiny after revealing personal health information about her longtime best friend, Winfrey, on air. While explaining the 70-year-old OWN Network executive’s canceled appearance on CBS Mornings, King mentioned her gal pal was in the hospital after suffering from "some kind of stomach flu" that resulted in "stuff coming out of both ends."

This revelation reportedly sparked media mayhem and deep concern from Winfrey’s friends and acquaintances worldwide, leading King to clear up her comments on Instagram.

These recent incidents serve as stark reminders of the intense scrutiny public figures face, and the high stakes of speaking out on personal matters and controversial issues.

One thing is clear: every word counts, and the consequences of saying the wrong thing can be far-reaching indeed.