Justin Bieber has supposedly been snapped in yet another “is he, or isn’t he smoking weed” new photo doing the online rounds, but this time it seems an Ariana Grande look-a-like has been roped in.
Possibly timed to ride the coverage Bieber generated yesterday with the release of his new single “Heartbreaker,” TMZ published an Instagram photo on Monday purporting to show the Canadian holding a spliff while Nickelodeon actress and songstress ‘Ariana Grande’ eyes him with a smile in some unspecified social setting.
The website wrote , ” Bieber… appears to be holding a long joint.”
According to TMZ, sources for both Grande and Bieber say the girl in the picture is not Ariana and that the snap was photoshopped to look as if the “Baby” star is lighting up a joint.
For their part neither Ariana or Justin have mentioned the picture on their social media accounts, so the present fuss will most likely froth for a few days then fade.
Beyond noting the staggeringly obvious point that if Grande isn’t really in the photo then it’s likely other items in the tableau were also tampered with, people will believe what they want to believe.
Grande recently confirmed she is an relationship with The Wanted’s Nathan Sykes after weeks of rumors about sparks flying between the twosome when they worked on their duet “Almost Is Never Enough,” following Grande’s months back acrimonious split with Australian teen star Jai Brooks of The Janoskians.
This isn’t the Yours Truly singer’s first time sharing headlines with Bieber. Back in August, Ariana was persuaded by the heartthrob to tweet a backstage “kiss selfie” between the two in Tampa, Fl., during her support stint on his Believe tour.
Somewhat inevitably, fans went crazy online and Grande eventually deleted the snap. At the time she tweeted, “Everyone, girls are allowed to be friends with guys. I’m a lady. Chill out.”
The songstress subsequently shot down “hooking up” rumors with Bieber in an interview with J-14.
“It’s funny, everybody thinks we spent so much time together because we were touring,” the 20-year-old told the publication. “But really, I think I saw him once, and it was for about five minutes.”
(Photo: Ariana Grande Instagram via Twitter, caption, “@justinbieber you’re crazy and nonna says thank you, she loves you (sic).”)
Bieber was previously snapped holding what looked like a marijuana joint at a soiree in a Newport Beach hotel room back in January. The then 18-year-old addressed the furor on Saturday Night Live in February, when he referred to himself in the third person playing the President of the Miley Cyrus fan club in a sketch.
“I also heard he got busted for smoking weed and he’s really sorry about it,” Bieber said, while in character, adding, “People make mistakes, and he’s never gonna do it again.”
Speaking of Cyrus, the “Wrecking Ball” star tweeted a picture of herself wearing a “Reefer Fever” tank top showing the Biebs enjoying a cartoon joint on Monday, Oct. 7.
It was captioned, “@justinbieber FO LIFE.”
So, what’s the takeaway? Very rich teenagers, like not so rich teenagers, often like smoking weed. And the art of photoshopping makes the entertainment news cycle go round.