Justin Bieber has addressed gossip media insinuations about a selfie featuring himself and songstress Madison Beer.
The Canadian singer posted an Instagram photo of Beer and himself from their Wednesday studio session at the Ivar theater, Los Angeles.
In the shot, Madison,15, is seen wearing a white vest top, while Justin leans in from the side.
Some outlets who published the selfie made much of Bieber’s head being close to Madison’s chest, with some even comparing the context to 13-year-old Willow Smith’s bed shot with the 20-year-old actor Moises Arias.
Just as Jada Pinkett-Smith blasted critics for smutty innuendos, Bieber, too — though with less direct language — has made the nature of his relationship with Beer clear.
Taking to Twitter Friday, the 20-year-old clarified:
“@MadisonElleBeer is my artist, a great girl, and like my little sister. I’m proud of her and she is a star. Helping her live her dream.”
@MadisonElleBeer is my artist, a great girl, and like my little sister. I’m proud of her and she is a star. Helping her live her dream.
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) May 9, 2014
For those who may be unaware, Justin discovered the then 13-year-old Beer on YouTube in 2012. Echoing Bieber’s career start on the video-sharing site, the Long Island teen uploaded clips singing popular past and present R&B and Jazz songs.
Back in July 2012, Bieber endorsed Madison’s rendition of Etta James’ iconic standard “ At Last ” on Twitter.
wow. 13 years old! she can sing. great job. #futurestar – http://t.co/fZot6Ed6 — Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) July 17, 2012
Justin later sent Beer’s mash-up of the also Bieber-endorsed Carly Rae Jepsen’s massive hit “ Call Me Maybe ” and his own single “ Boyfriend ” to Jepsen, and also did the same with Beers’ cover of a Bruno Mars hit.
Fast forward to Bieber’s cameo in Beer’s music video for her “ Melodies “ debut single last September and her later signing to Island Records that same month via a production deal with Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun’s Schoolboy Records.
Beer is now prepping her first album, which Bieber is contributing to and helping his protége with.
The pair worked in Miami last month in a session that Justin’s then-girlfriend Selena Gomez dropped in on, and the “ Confident ” singer has since worked with Madison in two sessions in Los Angeles.
( Photo: Bieber and Beer in studio session selfie via Madison Beer/Shots .)
So, it looks like there’s nothing to see here but a working relationship that is also a friendship between Beer and her mentor, Bieber.
Sometimes an innocent selfie is just an innocent selfie.
So grateful I get to work with one of the most creative geniuses in the world @justinbieber … Learning a lot from you ?
— Madison Beer (@MadisonElleBeer) April 9, 2014
so excited for the new music i’ve been workin on with @justinbieber . Can’t wait for you guys to heaaarrr
— Madison Beer (@MadisonElleBeer) April 19, 2014
don’t listen to rumors it’s all stupidity
— Madison Beer (@MadisonElleBeer) April 20, 2014