Seth Rogen Rethinks Justin Bieber Hate-Fest? ‘I’m Starting To Feel Guilty’

Seth Rogen may be having conscience twinges over his Justin Bieber trash talk-fest. Replying to a tweet from director Judd Apatow congratulating him on Bieber-bashing interviews for his new film Neighbors, Rogen tweeted, “Thanks, man, I’m glad they’re done because I’m starting to feel guilty.”

Seth Rogen appears to be doing a little reflecting on his anti-Bieber stance.

It began in January when Rogen tweeted that the singer was a “piece of s–t” in response to Bieber’s same day arrest on suspicion of DUI.

Subsequent takedowns of his fellow Canadian possibly climaxed this week as the 32-year-old comedian/actor/writer promoted his new movie Neighbors in media appearances, during which he called Bieber “a piece of s–t,” adding “motherf–ker,” “d–k,” and “a–hole” to the list.

From the timestamp of Rogen’s tweet, it looks as if it was posted after Bieber’s first-time ever response to months of baiting.

On Thursday, Justin finally hit back with a mild zinger to his nemesis, tweeting:

“Seth Rogan, sorry I didn’t bow down when I asked 2 meet u was probably a bit shy and didn’t want to be over the top but still. love ur movies.”

Seth Rogan sorry I didnt bow down when I asked 2 meet u was probably a bit shy and didn’t want to be over the top but still. love ur movies.

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) May 8, 2014

About two hours later Rogen replied to a tweet from the director Judd Apatow (Bridesmaids, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) congratulating his recent round of Bieber-bashing interviews.

Surprisingly, Rogen returned, “Thanks, man, I’m glad they’re done because I’m starting to feel guilty.“

@JuddApatow thanks man. Im glad they’re done because I’m starting to feel guilty. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 8, 2014

If Rogen is experiencing pause for thought over his so far relentless, four-month calling out of Bieber, it’s refreshing to see him publicly state it.

His seeming reflection – it’s possible he was joking – may be the only acknowledgement the “Baby” singer receives for his tweet on Rogen, but it will likely be welcomed by Bieber who’s not exactly lacking on the critics front.

Following his January tweet, Rogen appeared on a special SXSW festival edition of Watch What Happens Live during which he piled on Bieber, telling host Andy Cohen:

“In my opinion, Justin Bieber is a piece of s–t,” adding, “He seems like he’s obnoxious and ungrateful, insincere, and he puts people’s lives at danger and overall he acts like a piece of s**t.”

Fast forward to Rogen once again slamming the singer on Howard Stern’s XM radio show earlier this week.

After telling Stern he first met Bieber when the then 14-year-old requested to meet him when they both appeared on a German talk show, Seth explained his presumed hate of the singer was borne out by the encounter.

“I was like, ‘Sure, I’ll meet him.’ So I went outside to meet him and he was acting like I asked to meet him,” Rogen alleged.

“It was very nonchalant, ‘Yo man. Wassup?,’ and I was like,”What the f–k, I don’t give a f–k about you, I don’t want to meet you!”

Rogen went on,”‘Don’t act all nonplussed to meet me. I didn’t want to meet you. I was totally cool not meeting you.'”

“He’s young. The kid’s a d–k!,” he remembered concluding at the time.

The actor went on to recall another meet two years later with Bieber at the 2011 MTV VMAs, during which then 16-year-old singer played with a snake. The memory elicited a damning verdict from Rogen.

“I was like ‘What the f–k,’ and I talked to him for like five minutes and I was like, ‘F–k this kid.’ He was trying to be funny with like, ‘Hey this snake,'” he raged.

Seth went on to compare his present co-star former Disney star Zac Efron’s alleged self-awareness with Justin’s lack of, and said the singer displayed:

“No sense that ‘I appeal to young, young people, maybe a grown man who works in comedy doesn’t f–king give a sh*t about me. Maybe I should act in such a way that perhaps this isn’t the great experience of his f–king life.'”

God forbid we should all be judged on our child gaucheness ad infinitum.

Rogen repeated his version of meeting Bieber to The Today Show’s Matt Lauer, insisting:

“To me, the idea that, like, a grown man doesn’t like Justin Bieber is not a controversial thought,” he said Wednesday.

Expanding on his “grown man” premise — which appears to amount to unfettered, looping hatred — Rogen explained:

“Why would I [like him]!?,” adding. “It would be much weirder if I did like Justin Bieber.”

At that point Seth gestured to the Today studio audience, declaring:

“None of these people in this room like Justin Bieber. I can guarantee you that,” shortly after bullishly insisting, “I don’t know anyone who likes Justin Bieber.”

Rolling onto Thursday, Seth took his anti-Bieber tour to The Daily Show, this time invoking his dog.

After host Jon Stewart asked if the star if he had children, the funnyman replied he didn’t.

Stewart then asked if he spoke to his dog about Bieber, to which Rogen quipped:

“But she doesn’t need to know Justin Bieber is a douchebag. She seems accepting of it, actually.”

Stewart chimed back that the dog probably “knows the truth” about the singer.

Without missing a beat, Rogen snarked: “If a dog can smell one thing, it’s an a–hole.”

Not a moment too soon then, for a pull back from what’s become a how-to-bully course from an influential star.

If his Bieber hate-fest has come to an overdue end we can all get back to appreciating Seth for what he does best:

Making us laugh at the absurd, the banal and the pompous, without needing to hurt another human being to do it.