Matthew McConaughey recounts the advice his mother gave him following his arrest for playing bongos naked while under the influence in 1999.

In 1999, Matthew McConaughey remembered how his mother, Kay McConaughey, supported him after he was arrested for playing bongo drums while naked and under the influence.

In his bestselling 2020 memoir "Greenlights," the 55-year-old actor recounted the infamous event. At the Texas Book Festival last weekend, McConaughey and Malcolm Gladwell were the headlining authors, and during their conversation, McConaughey discussed "Greenlights" with director Richard Linklater.

During a conversation with Linklater, McConaughey recalled the counsel Kay imparted to him following the notorious arrest.

"According to People magazine, the Texas native remembered Kay telling him, "'You go outside in front of that media, and you hold your head high,'" and adding, "'I know what you were doing last night playing bongos, smoking that funny stuff in your birthday suit, and you've done it many times before. And I know you're going to do it again.'""

Before directing McConaughey in "Dazed and Confused," Linklater had previously received similar advice from Kay.

"She advised me not to enter a place as if I wanted to purchase it, but instead to walk in as if I owned it. She gave me this advice before we went to prom. She gave me this advice on the morning before I went in for a screen test for 'A Time to Kill,'" he said.

In "Greenlights," McConaughey stated that the arrest happened following a football game where his alma mater, the Texas Longhorns, played against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

At the time of the Longhorns' victory over the Huskers, McConaughey, who was 29, remembered that Austin was "blazing" and it was "time to party."

I partied all night until Sunday and Sunday night without getting any sleep," he wrote. "At 2:30 on Monday morning, I finally decided to relax. I turned off the lights, took off my clothes, opened the window, and let the jasmine scent from my garden fill the room.

"I decided to light up a bowl and enjoy the melodic beats of Henri Dikongué, an African musician, through my home speakers. I also felt the urge to stand over my drum set and follow the rhythm of the blues before they reached Memphis, using my favorite Afro-Cuban drum, which is steeped in ceremony and speaking in tongues, the congas."

"You go outside in front of that media, and you hold your head high." — Kay McConaughey

However, McConaughey wrote that his nude jam session was unexpectedly interrupted.

"While I was blissfully banging away, two Austin policemen entered my home unannounced, wrestled me to the ground with nightsticks, handcuffed me, and pinned me to the floor," he remembered.

One officer informed McConaughey that he was being charged with "disturbing the peace, possession of marijuana, and resisting arrest."

The "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" star remembered yelling at the officer, "F--- you, motherf-----! You broke in my house! F--, yeah, I resisted!"

The other officer attempted to cover McConaughey with a blanket, but he declined.

"I exclaimed, 'Ohhhh no!' and barked, 'I'm not putting s--- on! My naked ass is proof I was mindin' my own business!'" he recalled to the officer.

A crowd had gathered as the actor was being escorted to the police car.

Fourty of my neighbors were present on the street, with six lit-up cop cars indicating that the news of the arrest had spread over the police scanner.

At the Austin Police Department, McConaughey recalled that a fellow inmate urged him to wear "orange institutional pants."

McConaughey initially claimed his nakedness was evidence of his innocence.

The actor recalled the inmate saying, "We're all innocent, man. You definitely want to wear these,".

"Perhaps it was his sincere gaze, his shared criminal background, or the unexpected insight that a towering, muscular inmate who advises you to wear pants before entering jail should be taken seriously," McConaughey wrote.

The following morning, McConaughey was visited by Judge Penny Wilkov and criminal defense attorney Joe Turner after spending the night in jail.

McConaughey was released on bond after Wilkov decided not to pursue charges of disturbing the peace and possession misdemeanor.

Turner advised McConaughey to exit the jail through the back door because the front was surrounded by reporters.

At that point, the actor felt "guilty" about his departure from jail and called Kay for guidance.

In search of comfort, I called my mom before deciding on my next move during my first prison sentence. Despite knowing she wouldn't sympathize with my situation, I believed she would offer a drink and raise a glass to my misfortune.

It was unclear whether it would be her or the new groupie fan who would answer. To my surprise, it was both.

Kay said, 'They what, Matthew?! Broke into your house!? Those son of a bitches, you keep your head up,' and she added, 'There is nothing wrong with smokin' a little fun stuff and playing your drums naked at night in your own home; who do they think they are comin in your house like that?'

I hung up and decided to confront the media crowd out front instead of slipping away unnoticed.

"Two days later, BONGO NAKED T-shirts were all over Austin."

At the Texas Book Fair, Linklater mentioned that McConaughey was not the only author in the family.

The director informed him that he was not the first McConaughey to write a memoir.

Kay's 2008 self-published memoir was already published before your mom, Linklater stated.

McConaughey stated that his mom's memoir is titled "I Amaze Myself." He added that she still has a bumper sticker with that same phrase to this day.

"She's 92, and it's undeniable," he remarked.