Bieber backlash was bound to happen. No matter how perfectly poised the teenage phenomenon tried to be, the young man underneath that mop-top hair was inevitably going to stick his foot in his mouth. And now,
after a controversial Rolling Stone interview, Justin Bieber has found himself at the center of public criticism for his polarizing opinions on some touchy topics.It's certainly no secret that the 16-year-old superstar has an extensive team surrounding him to keep his image in check. But when the Biebs drove contributing editor Vanessa Grigoriadis around Atlanta in his Range Rover, the impulsive teen didn't have his handlers reminding him when to stop talking. So when he was asked his opinions on premarital sex, abortion and abortion in the case of rape, he wasn't as PC as we might expect a pop star to be. He even inadvertently threw himself onto the hot seat by comparing the healthcare system in the United States to the one in his native Canada.
"I really don't believe in abortion," the teen idol said. "It's like killing a baby?" When asked if he was still adamantly pro-life in cases of rape, his stance didn't really change. "Um. Well, I think that's really sad, but everything happens for a reason," he said. "I don't know how that would be a reason. I guess I haven't been in that position, so I wouldn't be able to judge that."
This seemingly innocent opinion led to many headlines and jeers at Bieber's expense, ridiculing him for implying something as traumatic as rape "happens for a reason." But Grigoriadis, the interviewer, has a different opinion of what Bieber was trying to convey. "I think he meant that God has a plan," she told PopEater. "Even for the most die-hard Christian, it's hard to justify rape as part of God's plan, and harder to justify rape that leads to pregnancy and abortion. I think he was wrestling with that in his answer, which I found to be solid and logical. I think it is being widely misunderstood. He did not say that rape was part of God's plan."
Another point of contention from the interview is the Canadian crooner's admission that he never plans to become an American citizen. "You guys are evil," he joked. "Canada's the best country in the world." The young man even took a dig at the U.S. healthcare system. "We go to the doctor and we don't need to worry about paying him, but here, your whole life, you're broke because of medical bills."
Let's give the kid a little credit here. Sure, he's traveled the world and is in a higher tax bracket than most of us can even fathom, but how many 16-year-olds are even remotely aware of how insanely expensive healthcare can be? The fact that he's cultured and tuned in to the everyday struggles of those surrounding him (he mentions his bodyguard's premature baby and the costly complications stemming from that) is a refreshing glimpse of a Hollywood star that hasn't completely lost touch with reality and everyday people.
In terms of whether or not Bieber is mature for his age, Grigoriadis agreed with the star's manager that it really just depends on the day. She explained, "Scooter Braun was right when he said to me that Justin sometimes seems like a 16-year-old going on 14 and other times like a 16-year-old going on 32."
Justin and his opinions on premarital sex are understandable -- the kid is, after all, a sex symbol to millions of tween girls -- but were the questions about abortion, rape and even politics appropriate given his age and the fact that these topics have seemingly nothing to do with his music, movie or any of the products he sells?
"I think that anyone who has as much sway in popular culture as Justin should be asked all questions," Grigoriadis said. "I agree that he does not bring up these issues in his work at the moment, but it's possible that he will in the future, as he decides that he wants the public to know more about him."
So now that we've all analyzed the five-and-a-half foot teen and his deep, intellectual musings, let's all quit picking on the Biebs. It's time to go back to wearing 3-D purple glasses, dancing to 'Never Say Never' and reminding ourselves that despite his superstar status, Justin Bieber is a teenage boy, not a politician