Justin Bieber dropped by Power 106 radio station in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning and made quite an impression from the moment he arrived, not least because he said he was “retiring.”
But let’s back up.
The 19-year-old arrived at the Burbank studio to a crowd of excitable teens about two hours late, after tweeting en route that he was caught up in L.A. traffic.
The “Neighborhood” show has since tweeted Justin will return for an interview on Wednesday.
Incidentally, TMZ noted Bieber and his crew appeared to emerge from a van interior full of smoke when the side doors were opened outside Power 106.
Although his spot was briefer than planned, Justin set tongues wagging after he made a comment about his future plans, saying, “Um, I’m actually retiring, man.”
It was noted that last year, after becoming exasperated by false tabloid rumors , (notably the false paternity claim from Mariah Yeater in 2011) Bieber said:
“I got to the point where I thought, ‘I don’t want to do this. I just want to be normal.’”
At the time, the then 18-year-old added “It was difficult because I’d never gone through anything like that. Usher was like, ‘Prepare to have this for the rest of your career because it’s not going to stop.’ He’s gone through some stuff and most artists go through their fair share of bull. That was just my first time.”
However, during the Power 106 interview, Bieber also revealed he was filming a music video for his “ Confident ” collaboration with Chance The Rapper that Tuesday. So, for the moment, retirement talk seems to have been said in jest.
Ahead of the Believe concert-movie world premiere on Wednesday, the teen star echoed some of the points made in the second trailer unveiled earlier in the week.
The station tweeted a few Bieber soundbites which included: “I’m 19, I’m gonna make mistakes, it’s inevitable,” and, “There is a motto that I live by. Never say never. Everyone can live their dream.”
At one point, the pop prince insisted, “People think I’m arrogant, I’m not, I’ve always been a caring and giving person.” He later added, “I’m here solely for my fans and for the music.”
Justin also said, “I want to grow as an artist and I’m taking a step out, I want my music to mature.”
In what was a fairly rock ‘n’ roll sit-down, photos of Bieber apparently tattooing one of the station’s staff later surfaced online.
(Photo: Bieber appears to tattoo a man at Power 106 on Dec. 17).
Taking the time to pose for pictures with fans, after his visit Justin took to Twitter to post pictures of the impromptu meet and greets.
I love #mybeliebers pic.twitter.com/kDGDIgyXxq
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 17, 2013
As well as hitting up Power 106, Bieber , his manager Scooter Braun, and superstar mentor Usher will be interviewed on air by host Ryan Seacrest on premiere day.