A new video has surfaced of a 15-year-old Justin Bieber telling a racist joke to his friends.
In the clip, which was reportedly shot as part of his 2011 documentary “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” the pop star asks his friends, “Why are black people afraid of chain saw?” Despite being urged by an off-camera pal to not finish the offensive joke, Bieber delivers the punchline that includes the n-word.
The video was posted on the Sun’s website May 31. TMZ posted the video the following day saying it had obtained the clip four years ago, but decided not to run with it because Bieber was only 15 years old at the time. The Sun reports that Bieber’s camp knew about the video and had offered money to keep it quiet, according to Page Six.
Bieber is “frustrated and sad” about the video and is expected to address it publicly very soon, TMZ says.
Following the release of the video, Bieber’s ex-bodyguard Kenny Hamilton defended the pop star with a series of tweets saying he’s not a racist.
We all make jokes about people’s size, look, or race. That doesn’t mean it’s right but comedians make millions of dollars profiting off…
— Kenny Hamilton (@KennyHamilton) June 1, 2014
…of these jokes. If someone is racist or prejudice you would know from a persons actions. Not because of a joke a 15 year old says.
— Kenny Hamilton (@KennyHamilton) June 1, 2014
What I do know whole heartedly is @justinbieber is not prejudice nor is he racist. He wasn’t raised that way and his family isn’t either.
— Kenny Hamilton (@KennyHamilton) June 1, 2014
Yes he said some bad jokes and I know if he could he would take back what was said. He’s grown a lot in 5 years and as we all grow we learn
— Kenny Hamilton (@KennyHamilton) June 1, 2014
He will always be criticized and judged every day of his life by people who only know him because of blogs or the press. That won’t change
— Kenny Hamilton (@KennyHamilton) June 1, 2014
As a black man I am telling the world that @justinbieber is not a racist. I have known him since he was 12 years old and I know his heart.
— Kenny Hamilton (@KennyHamilton) June 1, 2014