Justin Bieber Defended By Manager Braun In First Full Statement
Anyone imagining Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun might be reconsidering his stewardship of the 19-year-old’s career after months of increasingly negative headlines, is advised to think again.
In a strongly worded statement posted to both his Instagram and Twitter accounts on July 1, Braun expressed his support for Bieber while also alluding to the mounting legal threats and PR problems the singer is facing, in part from actual and alleged on and off tour incidents and tabloid inflation.
Braun’s statement was sent from Denver, Colorado, as he accompanied Bieber to his sixth sold out Believe tour show since coming off a five week break.
“Very happy tonight. I love this kid. And I have his back forever,” Braun began.
The 32-year-old, who discovered Bieber in 2007 after accidentally clicking on the then 13-year-old’s [some reports state 12] already heavily subscribed to “Kidrauhl” YouTube account and went on to sign him in a sub-record deal with Usher to Island Def Jam Music Group, continued:
“Justin Bieber is #family and I am proud of him. He is growing and pushing himself as a young man and doing it with the world watching. And what he wants is to be good. To be great. And to mean something positive to the world despite the obstacle and the pressures.”
Braun added: “His heart is pure gold and I will be right there with him like I promised him 6 years ago. It is all love [sic] How we react to adversity is what defines us as men. proud of u jb. Great talk. Thank u. love u man!”
As far as unconditional statements go, it’s pretty unconditional.
It comes after Braun’s brief comment on the gossip-site generated rehab rumor that went to press on June 21. In a same-day response to claims that he was “desperate” to get Bieber into treatment, the New Yorker who also manages Psy, Carly Rae Jepsen, Cody Simpson, Brit boy band The Wanted, rapper Asher Roth, Ariana Grande and Tori Kelly, tweeted:
Rumors are just that… Rumors. See everyone at the @justinbieber show tomorrow in San Diego. #BelieveTour
— Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) June 21, 2013
That dismissal was subsequently followed up by a lighthearted Instagram video showing Braun and Bieber spoofing Whitney Houston’s hit “I Will Always Love You,” and captioned “bromance is okay.”
At the time, Us Weekly pronounced it as a de facto rebuff to reports of a rift between Braun and the teen star.
As of yesterday, however, no interpretations as to where Braun stands are necessary.
After reports on Bieber (and his security team’s) alleged clashes with paparazzo’s in Miami; an ongoing battery investigation following claims by one of the Canadian’s Calabasas, CA, neighbors that he was spat at and threatened after confronting the singer over his alleged reckless driving; three paparazzo-led lawsuits; an ongoing reckless driving investigation; an alleged hit and run investigation; amid months of damaging drip-feed gossip on all aspects of the pop star’s personal life — Braun’s statement could be seen as better late than never.
Over the last four dramatic months, a direct addressing of the glut of allegations has been lacking from Braun, and to some extent Bieber’s publicist Melissa Victor (apart from occasional denials).
But now, in what is effectively his first full statement endorsing Bieber’s character and an unequivocal pledge of continued support, months of radio silence have ended. As the singer’s looming legal cases draw closer, Braun’s statement may well take on a seminal quality.
Bieber’s Denver show was also attended by the singer’s family and Grammy award winning R&B producer Rodney Jerkins, who marked the moment with an Instagram video.
The next scheduled Believe tour date is July 2 at Oklahoma’s Chesapeake Energy Arena, OK.
[Image via TV. Movie]
