American singer and actor Justin Timberlake

has issued a public apology to his wife Jessica Biel for a regrettable “lapse in

judgement” after images surfaced of him holding hands with co-star Alisha Wainwright.

The ‘What Goes Around’ songwriter, in an Instagram

post on Wednesday, said he needed to put the rumours of a relationship between

himself and Wainwright to rest, and admitted the entire situation has undermined

how he feels his son should think of him.

“A few weeks ago I displayed a strong

lapse in judgement – but let me be clear – nothing happened between me and my

co-star,” he began, adding, “I drank way too much that night and regret my

behavior. I should have known better.”

“This is not the example I want to set for

my son. I apologize to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such

an embarrassing situation, and I am focused on being the best husband and

father I can be. This was not that,” Timberlake continued.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake) on Dec 4, 2019 at 5:05pm PST

Timberlake, who is currently in New Orleans shooting for an upcoming film, Palmer – which Wainwright plays as his love interest – said he incredibly proud to be the lead in the upcoming drama.

He told his nearly 57 million Instagram followers that he is looking forward to continuing the project and expressed his excitement for his fans to see it.

Images of Timberlake and Wainwright at a

late Saturday party at The Absinthe House in New Orleans sent tongues wagging

across social media, despite both actors insisting the pictures were innocent.

Judging from images circulating on the

internet, as the party approached midnight, Justin reached over, clutching the

arm of the Raising Dion actress –

born to a Jamaican mother and Haitian father – tenderly before she rested her

hand on his right knee.

Catch up on our previous story below:

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