This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
And Finally Artist News
Justin Timberlake avoids jail after posting polling booth selfie
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 27 October 2016
Justin Timberlake has avoided prosecution for taking a selfie in a polling booth by virtue of the person whose job it is to investigate such things not being arsed.
The musician returned to his hometown of Memphis to cast an early vote in the upcoming US presidential election. Posting a picture of himself about to vote, he wrote on Instagram: “I just flew from LA to Memphis to #rockthevote. No excuses, my good people! There could be early voting in your town too. If not, 8 Nov! Choose to have a voice! If you don’t, then we can’t hear you! Get out and vote!”
So that’s a positive message. However, taking pictures while voting is illegal in Tennessee, and can incur a fine or jail sentence. And it wasn’t looking good for JT, when the next day the local District Attorney issued a statement saying: “The Shelby County DA was made aware of a possible violation of election law. The matter is under review by the DA’s Office”.
Panic stations! Who would run MySpace while he was in prison? It really looked like we were heading for disaster. But then it turned out it was OK. The DA couldn’t actually be bothered to look into what had happened.
“The statement released earlier today by my office regarding Justin Timberlake and an investigation was incorrect and was released without my knowledge”, said Shelby County DA Amy Weirich in a second statement. “I am out of town at a conference. No one in our office is currently investigating this matter nor will we be using our limited resources to do so”.
Phew! As a rule of thumb though, don’t take selfies in polling booth because that is obviously stupid and could be illegal.