Justin Bieber is apparently ready for “new beginnings” after a reported baptism and a family break celebrating his dad’s 40th birthday, after a week in which two videos of the then younger singer using the N-word surfaced.
In the wake of a report that Justin Bieber was reportedly baptized in a New York City bathtub last month while being extorted over years-old videos of him making racial slurs that surfaced last week, the singer tweeted the words “New beginnings. Good morning” on Monday.
The 20-year-old also shared a family video of his step-siblings, Jaxon, 4, and Jazmyn, 6.
The clip was first posted by Justin’s father, Jeremy, after the family gathered with friends to celebrate Bieber Snr’s 40th birthday last week in the District of Musoka, Ontario, Canada.
In it, Justin is seen being affectionate with Jaxon and Jazmyn as he showers them with hugs and kisses.
Jeremy captioned his YouTube clip: “I had an incredible weekend at a private cottage with my kids for my 40th birthday. Justin, Jazmyn and Jaxon are my life.
He adding, “I would be nothing without them. They make me a stronger person every single day.”
Somewhat predictably, Mail Online dismissed the family video as “damage control,” which seems bizarre as Bieber has been posting videos of his siblings and parents right from the start of his YouTube and online-enhanced career.
Like his father, Justin also seemed to be in a reflective mood.
The tattooed singer tweeted a non-captioned Instagram photo of a lake under a night sky, which may be the view from where he’s staying.
It’s likely Bieber has found the cottage retreat and company of his family a welcome respite from the ongoing racism row .
Fallout for the singer continues after one video of him as a 15-year-old reeling off a racial-slur joke, and another as a 14-year-old singing a parody of his 2009 hit “ One Less Lonely Girl ” were published by the UK’s The Sun tabloid last week.
After posting the landscape snap, Justin tweeted :
“New beginnings. Good morning,” after a conversation with his manager Scooter Braun, who wrote:
@justinbieber good talk. New beginnings. Be a light
— Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) June 9, 2014
Hours later, Braun seemed to allude to what Bieber is very likely going through when he tweeted:
It’s ok to not have all the answers. It’s even ok to be scared sometimes. Just dont stop caring. Thru the pain and the bs…dont give up.
— Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) June 10, 2014
U may not have the answer or even know what direction to head..and that is scary as hell. But step out, start walking, u will find your way
— Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) June 10, 2014
Bieber’s “new beginnings” note may be a reference to a baptism he reportedly received last month at the end of a week of bible study and church attendance under Pastor Carl Lentz – a longtime pal of the singer and a leader in the Hillsong Church NYC.
TMZ is reporting the singer’s baptism – a ritual that Christians believe washes away sin and leaves a believer “cleansed” and “resurrected” – took place in a bathtub in New York City, as his team were unable to find a church that could ensure privacy.
( Photo: Pastor Lentz told TMZ, Justin Bieber was baptised in a New York bathtub in the wake of being extorted over recently released racist videos. )
Braun’s reference to Bieber to being a “light” echoes sentiments recently made by Usher in a statement defending the younger singer from accusations of racism, after the release of the much-talked about videos.
On Saturday, the Confessions superstar posted an old photograph of himself and Bieber to Instagram along with his comment.
Of his protégé’s years-old racial slurs, his mentor said they were made by a “naive child’ who didn’t understand the impact of his words.
Usher wrote, in part: “As I have watched Justin Bieber navigate difficult waters as a young man, I can tell you that he hasn’t always chosen the path of his greatest potential, but he is unequivocally not a racist .”
Adding: “What he was 5 years ago was a naive child who did not understand the negative power and degradation that comes from playing with racial slurs. What he is now is a young man faced with an opportunity to become his best self, an example to the millions of kids that follow him to not make the same mistakes.”
( Photo: Mentor Usher has spoken out in defense of Justin Bieber after the publication of N-word videos. He called the singer as he was then “naive” and “unequivocally not a racist.” )
Usher’s statement is the latest in a line-up of names expressing support for Bieber and the view that his racial insensitive remarks should be left where they were made — in the past.
Those celebrities include UK comedians Russell Brand , Ricky Gervais , The View co-host and actress Whoopi Goldberg, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, rapper 50 Cent , the Young Money Entertainment label and Souljah Boy.
Readers may find the clip below of interest. In it, Ryan Higa, a Las Vegas-based comic/pop culture observer, discusses Bieber’s yesteryear racially insensitive videos.
[ Images via Carl Lentz Facebook , Jeremy Bieber YouTube , Justin Bieber Instagram .]