JUST IN: Justin Timberlake Addresses the Public After Entering Guilty Plea For Driving While Impaired

Pop star and actor Justin Timberlake made a public statement on Friday after entering a new guilty plea to driving while ability impaired, a downgraded plea from his previous charge of driving while intoxicated.

As part of his plea agreement, CNN’s Dana Bash reported that Timberlake was required to issue a public safety announcement, which he appeared to make during his statement. Timberlake was charged with DWI in Sag Harbor, New York in June. He reportedly failed a field sobriety test. That DWI charge was dropped on Friday. Timberlake was sentenced by a judge to 25 to 40 hours of community service.

This was his statement:

Many of you have probably been covering me for a lot of my life. And as you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard for myself and this was not that. This was not that. I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision. But I’ve had some time to reflect on that. And I also understand why, the fact that all of you are here, that I have a platform, you have a platform, we share that platform. And so what I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend. Take an Uber. There’s many travel apps. Take a taxi.

This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever’s watching and listening right now, they’ll learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have. And like I said, even one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.

I also said this in the courtroom before, but I grew up in a small town. So I can appreciate and understand the strain or unique nature that this must have been on the people of Sag Harbor. But I just want to say to everyone who’s been involved, from everyone in the courtroom to everyone outside, including the police department, that I’m very grateful and I thank them. And I guess, in closing, I’d like to say we can all be more safe out there. And I’m going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part. And thank you very much.

Watch the video above via CNN.