It was a good day for damage control as a five-year-old video surfaced of Justin Bieber telling a racist joke. CNN reports:
In the video, posted to TMZ.com, the pop star, then 15, asks: “Why are black people afraid of chain saws?”
He answers his own question: “Run n*****, n*****, n*****, n*****,” he says, imitating the sound of a chain saw. Then he laughs.
Bieber tweeted a lengthy apology for the video, which was retweeted 5,000 times in a minute and more than 30,000 times by the first half-hour.
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) June 1, 2014
The apology reads, in part:
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.
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.
Fans seem more than ready to forgive and forget.
@justinbieber I know u didn't mean to offend anyone ?
— ???í??? (@thougtofhim) June 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/happilyarielle/status/473250615217623040
https://twitter.com/ipromisedjb/status/473250619227394048
@justinbieber u are a good person, im so proud of you
— mari (@Fallenforbizzle) June 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/taylorczniff/status/473251111978405890
https://twitter.com/gilinsky_biebs/status/473251123214577664
@justinbieber such a beautiful apology letter my babe! Seriously you are an amazing person! Beliebers will be here till the end!❤️
— ??ladelleybaby'♡?? (@Ladelle_Jeanea) June 1, 2014
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