Remembering Justin Timberlake's Hilarious 2003 'Punk'd' Prank That Left Him in Tears
Remembering Justin Timberlake's Hilarious 2003 'Punk'd' Prank That Left Him in Tears
DeAnna JanesWed, April 1, 2026 at 1:40 AM UTC
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(Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI on Getty Images)
On March 17, 2003, Justin Timberlake got Punk’d. And the antics that literally brought the pop star to tears still deliver the laughs today, 23 years later.
Featured on the debut episode of MTV's hidden-camera series hosted by That '70s Show's Ashton Kutcher, Timberlake shows up at his home in the Hollywood Hills to would-be IRS agents seizing his personal belongings -- everything from his fancy vehicles and water toys, to his dogs and guitar have been boxed, boarded, and billed.
Dax Shepard, whose acting career was apparently minimal enough at the time that the big names and celebrities being duped didn’t recognize him, plays the IRS man informing Timberlake he owes six figures in back taxes.
“Are you Mr. Timberlake?” Shepard asks as the "Cry Me a River" singer walks toward him in a gray Nike T-shirt and baggy pants. He then proceeds to tell Timberlake that he owes $904,000 in back taxes and that there is now a lien on his property.
“Can we step inside, please, for a minute?” Timberlake asks.
“The house itself has been seized," Shepard says. "It’s now property of the government. We can’t go inside.”
As the NSYNC alum begins to understand the weight of the situation, he gets on his 2000s-era flip phone to call his mom, and eventually has a seat on his front porch, dropping his head into his hands.
As Shepard gets further instruction from Kutcher, who’s watching the hilarity unfold from a secret bunker, the prank takes a turn for the even more absurd. Shepard begins telling a tearful Timberlake that he'll be OK and that he’s young enough and handsome enough to no problem making the money back.
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“I really feel like you’re chastising me right now," Timberlake says.
As the mood turns hostile following the fake agents breaking a guitar Timberlake believes is his, Kutcher -- sporting the signature uniform of skater aughts culture: ringer tee, trucker hat, baggy jeans -- walks out and the whole nightmare is revealed to be a gag.
“You’re an a–hole,” Timberlake yells, before breaking a smile.
Punk’d ran from 2003 to 2015, spanning 10 seasons and 148 episodes. And even though it ended, the pranking continues.
Hit shows like Jury Duty on Prime Video and Impractical Jokers are still going strong. Not to mention the NBA’s Anthony Davis has Foul Play With Anthony Davis debuting April 6 on TBS, TNT, and truTV during which the biggest star athletes are all fair game.
Watch your back out there.
Related: 'Orange Is the New Black' Star Involved in Shocking Physical Altercation
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
