Justin Bieber Defended by Floyd Mayweather Amid Accusations of Racism
Justin Bieber is receiving backing from world famous boxer Floyd Mayweather after being accused of racism.
Bieber, the 20-year-old Canadian singer, was the subject of an old video released by TMZ that has some questioning if he is racist. In the video taken five years ago, the singer joked about black people while using the n-word.
After issuing an apology, Bieber's friend and 37-year-old undefeated boxing champion Mayweather defended the young singer.
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"Justin has been nothing but kind to me, my daughters and sons over the years. We all make mistakes when we are young, it's part of growing up," Mayweather tweeted. "I am proud of what he's doing as a 20 year old musician and business man. #TMT"
Bieber has appeared ringside with Mayweather during a few of the boxer's fights, and previously spoke about his admiration for the fighter in a 2012 interview with V Magazine.
"Everyone wants you to be on top, and as soon as you're there -- like Floyd Mayweather, he's the best boxer in the world. Now he is a champion," Bieber told the publication. "Every time he goes to a fight now, people are like, 'He's going to lose this time,' and then he wins. And the next time they say, 'He's going to lose,' again ... Every time he wins. And people aren't ever going to know that he's a champ."
Before Mayweather defended the singer, Bieber explained the ignorant video that went viral.
"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," Bieber wrote in a statement on Twitter. "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."
After insisting he is "very sorry," Bieber insisted that he is not making excuses for his jokes.
"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," Bieber's wrote. "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."
He finished his statement by saying, "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."
