If you’re looking for Justin Bieber’s naked butt Instagram picture, as Drake would say — you’re too late. On Saturday, the Biebs deleted the saucy snap, adding a lengthy caption, which basically said he was doing it for the kids.
In the caption to a fully-clothed pic of himself out and about, the 21-year-old explained his reasons for removing the much-talked about shot.
Justin revealed that he “deleted the photo” of his “ butt on Instagram not because I thought it was bad but someone close to me’s daughter follows me and she was embarrassed that she saw my butt and I totally wasn’t thinking in that aspect.”
The heartthrob continued, “And I felt awful that she felt bad.” He elaborated, “To anyone I may have offended I’m so sorry. It was completely pure hearted as a joke but didn’t take in account there are littles following me!!! Love u guys.”
https://instagram.com/p/5AC7PGgvna/?taken-by=justinbieber
The “Where Are U Now” singer originally posted the nude reveal on July 6. The pic shows him fully unclothed, facing away from the camera, and pointing at a distant island aboard a boat deck while vacationing in Bora Bora . His caption read, “Look.”
And look, they did. Justin Bieber fans punched up over 600,000 likes of the superstar’s pic in less than one hour, another 250,000 in two. In under three hours, his naked butt racked up over one million likes and temporarily interrupted service on Instagram.
By the time Justin deleted his reveal, it had notched up over 2.2 million likes, and was just 600,000 short of equaling model friend Kendall Jenner’s “Most Liked Instagram” record of 2.8 million.
https://instagram.com/p/3H0-Yqjo7u/
A point was not lost on some older Justin Bieber fans , who tweeted comments and posted remarks at the singer’s Instagram, lamenting the fact that he had removed the nude photo so close to rivaling the record.
Others bemoaned the fact that social media has effectively given young users a free pass to the Internet, while some fans praised the singer’s decision to delete the Instagram.
even though im sad he deleted the butt selfie, i kinda understand his reasons behind it!!
— Kathleen (@Biebercome2me) July 11, 2015
He was so close to the most likes on instagram pic.twitter.com/JfTg3Dzsov
— Justin Bieber News (@biebersgiIinsky) July 11, 2015
BUT IT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK THE RECORD FOR MOST IG LIKES pic.twitter.com/9C4eKgNuvi
— ???????????????????? (@avonsbelIissima) July 11, 2015
the fact that he he felt the need to apologize for the butt picture omg he’s the best pic.twitter.com/qEVol82184
— @palebiebs) July 12, 2015
10 years ago “littles” wouldn’t have even had access to the internet outside of parental block to see his butt pics
— j (@AhoyBieber) July 11, 2015
Explain to me why kids are even on Instagram @justinbieber
— Justin Bieber News (@biebersgiIinsky) July 11, 2015
whose sensitive ass kid ruined jb’s chance of having the most liked ig pic?
— adriana (@jungIebieber) July 11, 2015
Ugh dang littles….
— LuLu (@lulabelle777) July 11, 2015
it’s a butt a butt like a literal butt everyone has one
— mia (@lovemoneyjustin) July 11, 2015
the older fans can’t have shit because of the younger fans i’m mad
— mia (@lovemoneyjustin) July 11, 2015
— jordan (@biebsuschrist) July 11, 2015
Michaelangelo wouldn’t approve of this!! @justinbieber
— Ivanna (@BieberWindsIt) July 11, 2015
Bskagdjahskahs LITTLES SHOULDNT HAVE INSTAGRAM
— Ivanna (@BieberWindsIt) July 11, 2015
why are little kids on internet and why jb needs to act like their parent tf butt pics are harmless it’s not like he took selfie during sex
— cami (@SweetieBiebs) July 12, 2015
Now we’ll never know if that would’ve been the most liked pic pic.twitter.com/hthbEOjen6
— (@imsobeyonce) July 11, 2015
Aw, too bad it’s gone but Justin’s a sweetie for this pic.twitter.com/Op9ExjXQrd
— Susan (@_SusanJB) July 11, 2015
Why does a 21 year old still need to censor himself on anything that he does? pic.twitter.com/gEeZXEkkqE
— S?H D Y?H ? (@DearestSDM_x) July 11, 2015
The UK’s Capital FM radio station likely sums up many fans, and maybe others’ views on the matter.
. @JustinBieber has apologised for the naked bum picture http://t.co/bb1zJZGaZL pic.twitter.com/VnWeI9DfTG
— Capital (@CapitalOfficial) July 13, 2015
Meanwhile, although the sight of Bieber’s naked butt clearly offended some — including Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams and Bette Midler — it compelled the UK’s The Guardian to muse that “Bieber poses very artfully in his nude picture. He displays the kind of relaxed yet strong posture that Michelangelo would have loved.”
For those who did support Bieber’s right to enjoy the same freedom to strip that many of his female contemporaries in music “can’t stop, won’t stop” taking advantage of, there are enough screenshots, social media, and media reports on his iconic nude to fill a gallery.
While the Biebs’ did forfeit the chance to beat out Kendall Jenner’s record, it proves the younger contingent of the singer’s fan base is far more important to him.
[Images via Instagram]