Photo: WENN

Justin Timberlake has publicly apologized to his actress-wife Jessica Biel days after he was seen holding hands with Alisha Wainwright, the co-star of his upcoming movie.

The pop star and actor wrote Wednesday on Instagram that he prefers to "stay away from gossip as much as I can, but for my family I feel it is important to address recent rumours that are hurting the people I love."

He said the photos and video from a New Orleans bar "displayed a strong lapse in judgment — but let me be clear — nothing happened between me and my co-star."

Timberlake says he "drank way too much that night and I regret my behaviour. I should have known better. This is not the example I want to set for my son."

The 38-year-old Timberlake is filming the movie "Palmer" with Wainwright in New Orleans. He married Biel in 2012 and they have a son, four-year-old Silas.