Justin Bieber’s Calvin Klein ad campaign with model Lara Stone set the internet alight last week, as millions ogled pictures of the shirtless superstar in underwear and jeans with his blonde co-star.
Recently asked about what he thought of being considered more of a sex symbol after the high-profile reveal, the singer told Us Weekly magazine, “I don’t know if I’m a sex symbol or what that even means. But if I am one, fine by me.”
The “Confident” singer also revealed he is happy with his current bachelor status, saying, “Single life is great. It’s given me time to focus on myself.”
But it looks as if there is something the Biebs isn’t so confident about: his platinum, blonde hair.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday to share a selfie taken with pal singer Khalil and respond to fans’ complaints about his hair, Justin’s caption read, “For all u fools saying cut my hair it’s in an awkward stage I’m sorry lol.”
The singer continued, “But I’m growing it out and there’s gonna be a period of time where it looks dumb lol a hat only does so much. #insecure lol.”
In response, thousands of fans left encouraging comments mostly telling Bieber that they support him for more than just his hair.
“We are your Beliebers not fools! Do what you want. But you better your natural hair color. true. You have beautiful natural hair,” wrote one fan.
Another chimed in, “You look perfect no matter what BAE.”
Back in December, the Biebs caused quite the stir when he was spotted furtively leaving a hair salon with his blond locks under a hat. Since then, he’s rarely been seen without some kind of head gear.
But while many fans complimented Justin’s ‘do at his “insecure” post, it seems Bieber and his hair stylist, Florido actually see the look as transitional.
Speaking to Teen Vogue back in December, Florido told the magazine, “I personally love the blonde, and it’ll get better as it grows out and the dark roots show. He called me one day and was like, ‘I want to go blonde.’ And I was like, ‘I’m down!’ I love it. We’d been doing the coif thing for so long, and he wanted to change things up.”
Of the much-talked about Calvin Klein ads , Justin told Us Weekly , he landed the job after a strong social media reaction to him posting a selfie in calvins on Instagram last March.
“Modelling for Calvin Klein was always my dream. And it got their attention,” he revealed, adding that his body icon is former CK model Mark Wahlberg and that he hopes the actor “reacts positively” to his ads.
Since that Us interview, Wahlberg’s wife , Rhea Durham, tweeted up a storm the same day Bieber was named as the new face of Calvin Klein. She insisted her husband was the best model for the brand and claimed Justin’s ads were photoshopped. Durham went at it again on Thursday, but apologized to the singer in the end.
More controversy came that night, after the website Breathe Heavy attempted to pass off a fake photoshop GIF of Justin looking much smaller than in his official Calvin Klein ad shot, as “ unretouched .”
After the site was sent a cease and desist letter by Bieber’s lawyers and threatened with a lawsuit, they took down the GIF, apologized (snarkily) to the singer and posted a retraction of their claims, which read [in part]…
“Because BreatheHeavy is not about making anyone feel bad or intentionally stirring the pot (and are definitely not here for lawsuits), we shall retract the story per request. Bieber denies the photo is real, and I respect that and will believe him.”
As for previous claims that Justin is lacking in the bulge department? His personal trainer, Patrick Nilsson, told Access Hollywood , “I can definitely confirm that he is a well-endowed guy. I sound weird saying that, but yes.”
To round off Justin’s dramatic week, he may have felt less insecure after Calvin Klein put their weight behind their latest star to shut down an unsubstantiated claim of douchery on the photo shoot.
Melisa Goldie, the Chief Marketing Officer at Calvin Klein, told Us Weekly , “Justin showed up early every day with amazing energy; he completely trusted us and gave it his all.”
She went on, “We are incredibly proud of the final images and how they portray Justin and Lara. This campaign will definitely make history.”
Going forward, perhaps the conversation will return to how stunning the Bieber-Stone CK campaign is, as opposed to the ugly body-shaming and click-bait activities of websites that should know better?
[Images via Calvin Klein/Getty Images]