Demi Lovato has addressed reports that she recently slammed Justin Bieber.
The X Factor judge has hit back at a TMZ story which claimed she insulted the Canadian pop idol during Wednesday’s USC campus auditions for the talent show.
The website quoted a source who said Lovato criticized a 22-year-old contestant she thought had a bad attitude, with the alleged zinger , “We don’t need another little punk running the streets.”
If that wasn’t bad enough, the “Heart Attack” star’s next comment also raised eyebrows.
When another contestant stepped up to audition singing Bieber’s 2012 Believe album cut “As Long As You Love Me,” the source revealed Lovato’s feedback was something of a backhander to the 19-year-old pop star.
“Well, finally someone can sing the song the way it was meant to be sung,” Lovato said.
TMZ decided this was an indication the ex-Disney actress was blasting how Bieber originally sang the song.
Not so, insists Lovato.
The 20-year-old took to Twitter in an attempt to answer the tweets she received from angry Bieber fans, and presumably her own desire to set the record straight.
“Btw — no shade thrown at Justin,” she began. “So many people audition with his songs.. Finally someone sang it the way it was meant to be sung..”
Lovato then went on to add:
Meaning, finally someone sang it the way JUSTIN sang it.
— demetria lovato (@ddlovato) July 13, 2013
Ain’t got nothin’ but love for @justinbieber and his beliebers.
— demetria lovato (@ddlovato) July 13, 2013
So there you have it. Straight from the lady herself. Which means, of course, that either TMZ’s source mistakenly misinterpreted what was heard or perhaps some other more nefarious scenario.
Either way, Lovato has effectively shut down the claims that she intended to insult Bieber and it only took three tweets.
That’s the way to do it.