In a statement released to ‘The Hollywood Reporter’, Bieber explained:
As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt. I thought it was ok to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance. Thanks to friends and family I learned from my mistakes and grew up and apologized for those wrongs. Now that these mistakes from the past have become public I need to apologize again to all those I have offended. I’m very sorry. I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake. I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again. Ignorance has no place in our society and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say but telling the truth is always what’s right. Five years ago I made a reckless and immature mistake and i’m grateful to those close to me who helped me learn those lessons as a young man. Once again….I’m sorry.
What do you make of his comments?
I wish he’d apologize for his terrible music instead.
“As a kid” Bad start bieber.
Being serious, I respect his well thought out apology, he seems considerate and sincere, unlike the bratty mess he’s portrayed himself as recently. Obviously, he must know his career depends on the Black people, including Usher, who surround him and that he could be attacked, so this was smart. Much better than Madonna’s dry, dehydrated, insincere-sounding, tumbleweed apology!
Oh please like he really wrote that… no shade to Matthew
I love ALL the damage this kid has done lately, THIS is what’s got him on his knees pleading his case. I’m guessing he doesn’t want to catch a case with one of those ‘n-words’.
I’m positive that he didn’t write this. Scooter paid someone to think that b******* up smh They did a terrible job at the reverse psychology might I add. Stop going back to saying “when I was a kid” in between every damn sentence. I’ve noticed multiple young white celebs using that word as an act of rebellion more than anything.
Why apologize for something you still doing?? #PRbullshit
like him a Madonna trying to be hip week later no one will care … i bet after this no more drama chance scared he said wat Donald and paula deeen went through
As a kid he still is a kid
Lord knows I can’t stand anything Bieber and yesterday was a mess but I respect his apology. Look, I don’t think he’s racist. He was young, highly ignorant and was trying to make a joke with his friends and it came out bad – really bad. So yeah, I’m over it because honestly, I saw it coming one day. Let’s be real people, if a camera followed you around daily and documented your interactions with your friends, would you be comfortable with knowing that some of the things you say could go public? I’m not excusing him but we’ve all made prejudiced jokes etc. However, what I will not take are those pea-brain Beliebers who went on and on about JB can’t be racist because he has black friends and works with them. Wake up, it’s 2014. That excuse can’t fly anymore. I wonder how this will pan out for him in the future concerning his music because he’s been trying to cross over to the Urban market since 2012.
Girl Bye! Nobody cares Justine.