Categories: Blog Central, Feschuk on the famous

Justin Bieber says you get raped for a reason, ladies (until he didn't exactly say that)

Here’s hoping that’s not the chorus to his next single

by Scott Feschuk on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 11:53am - 298 Comments

UPDATE (Thursday, 3 p.m. ET). From a bit just published at the AV Club: “Rolling Stone has now come forward to say that, due to an ‘editing error,’ the [Bieber] quote [about rape and abortion] was incomplete, omitting a sentence that could serve to abate the outcry somewhat. Here is Bieber’s full statement on whether abortion is justified in cases of rape, with the revised section in bold: ‘Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I don’t know how that would be a reason. I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that.’ Note that it doesn’t exactly change his feelings on the matter—abortion is still definitely not swag—but it does lessen the idea that Bieber thinks rape happens for a reason, which is a pretty big omission on Rolling Stone‘s part, don’t you think?”

•••

From the Dept. of That Interview Went Well:

“I really don’t believe in abortion,” Bieber tells Rolling Stone. “It’s like killing a baby?” (The question mark was put there by the magazine, so I guess we can assume his voice went up at the end like this? Or maybe he was asking for clarification.)

Okay, how about abortion in cases of rape? “Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason.”

(I’m no Col. Tom Parker, but I sure hope that’s not the chorus to Bieber’s next single: Well you got raped and impregnated/It sure is a bummer but must have been fated… Love your rape baaaaaby!)

In geopolitical news, Bieber has thoughts about junk and stuff: “I’m not sure about the [political] parties,” he says. “But whatever they have in Korea, that’s bad.” (I say it’s two weeks tops before Kim Jong-il drops his reply and THIS RAP WAR IS ON. The East coast v. West coast rivalry is going to be nothing compared to Eastern hemisphere v. Western hemisphere. Drake is already working on mad rhymes for Mongolia.)

But just when you think that maybe this interview was a mistake, the kid rallies with his answer to a question from a fan: “If you could fly anywhere in the world to go to a restaurant, where would you go?”

The Bieber replies: Canada. Swiss Chalet. Quarter Chicken Dinner.

Tags: abortion, Interview, Justin bieber, Rolling Stone

More by Scott Feschuk

Guest

News Flash: Adolescents occasionally say dumb things!
LdKitchenersOwn

I just wanted to make a point outside of the threads that I made in a couple of replies. Justin Bieber is certainly not the only person in the world who believes that "everything happens for a reason". In particular, I think people who are laying in to the Biebs for that phrase may not have considered that one group of people who probably believe quite strongly that everything happens for a reason are impregnated rape victims who decide to keep their babies.

Presumably no one would mock them for believing that "everything happens for a reason" and expressing that belief publicly.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to discover that some of Justin's fans are pregnant young girls living through a tragedy and who have decided to keep their babies. To the extent that his fans read Rolling Stone, I think some fan out there may well have taken a tiny bit of solace from hearing Justin say that "everything happens for a reason".
Julie

I think that if he finished the sentece it could have turned out better maybe something like everything happens for a reason she could have new baby to love . Then the story would be different.
But you know hate on a kid whos just trying to make it in the world.
God forbid he makes a poor choice of words.
Carrie

I believe the rest of quote said 'I guess I haven't been in that position, so I wouldn't be able to judge that.' I think that changes the context of what he said – he just simply is not in a position of experience to comment. Poor kid – he's about to learn how everyone loves to take down a celebrity.
teejay17

Just as we have laws that prevent a minor from being charged as adults, I think we should also abstain from perceiving comments made by this demographic in an "adult" manner. He has no idea what he's talking about. It was a sound byte question answered in a sound byte style, thrice removed.
Vince Yim

I don't even like the music, but I know irresponsible journalism when I see it. Most celebrities don't make media gaffes like this because they usually have their handlers to stop questions like these. This was simply predatory and taking it out of context, borders on libel. Sexual assault and abortion are not black and white issues, and even Beiber recognizes that when he says, "I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that."

While I'm at it, this needs to be said… we NEED journalistic integrity. http://www.avaaz.org/en/canada_fair_and_balanced/…
pruelee

Wow. A lot of you are saying that it's totally okay for a seventeen year old to be blatantly ignorant about the issues that affect the youth of today so astronomically.
He's a kid, so don't take it seriously. He's a kid so he can be ignorant. He's a kid so he shouldn't really be thinking about these things.
You amaze me all of you.
Plus, seventeen isn't really that young, not in this day and age.

As for Bieber's comment, seems that Rolling Stone twisted his words a bit and blew it up into a headline.
Poor guy, but hey that's what you get when you're famous.
Jan

Turns out only the men wanted to talk about abortion.

GeoffM

Rolling Stone wanted to talk about abortion. MacLean's wanted to talk about rape. Bieber wanted nothing to do with either conversation, though he was honest enough to try to state his position and move on. (Abortion is like killing a baby. Rape is sad.) Me, I respectfully disagree with the young man on abortion, but I share his position on rape.

http://www.TheTwoSuggestions.com Andrew McIntosh

I suppose the Hollywood loons will now work overtime convincing Justin that indiscriminate sex, porn and abortion are just the bomb. Sad.
ron

I don't think he meant that the rape happened for a reason, I think he was talking about the resulting pregnancy. Still, a difficult question for anyone, let alone a 16 year old. Rolling Stone set him up for this for the sake of sensationalist headlines.
voxratio

In the first place, if Maclean's had the time to add an update, they most certainly should have had the time to change the article's title. Using "Justin Bieber says you got raped for a reason, ladies" is irresponsible, not to say, inflammatory journalism. Don't we have enough of that style of reporting from less credible news agencies? And in the second place, he is 16 years old. How could he possibly have anything meaningful to say about such an adult topic?
june conway beeby

Who knows what Bebier really said. Why sling such mud at a young boy with no evidence that he even said, this thus giving some people an opportunity to attack him.

Shame on the reporter. Shameful journalism.
Paulman

He's a teenager trying to express his thoughts on a complex topic. It does not help when Rolling Stone DELIBERATELY edits his comment to be MISLEADING.
Peggy

The title of your article in entirely misleading, just like the quote in the Rolling Stone on Justin Bieber. The guy is 16 for Pete's sake!!! And then the Rolling Stone decided NOT to publish his complete answer.
And now, YOUR title. Really scraping the bottom, don't you think, MacLean's????
Verna

Hahaaahhaaaahahahahahahahahahahaha! Too funny, so much response for a snot nosed pre teen idle!! I shall be so glad when his voice changes.
grenyk

Hey Maclean's, fix the freakin' headline. The Rolling Stone interview was misleading, and now, so is the headline. Seriously, Maclean's is better than this.
LesleyWood

I think the reporter who asked that question of this a kid should be ashamed.No one cares or believes for a minute that this child has the life experience needed to formulate an intelligent response. LET THE KID SING! and give it a rest.
http://mach1231.tripod.com Max

In the old days what you did was started out with your mates from high school, one guy knew how to drum, the other bass, and the other lead guitar. And someone who knew how to stretch his vocal chords. And what you would do is get together after school (skip your homework!) , get a blessing from Mom and Dad, and get your selves into what was once called a "jam session", basically just getting together and learning each others styles and rhythms and kind of 'jam' or hash something out (think of why you never hear of a hash session – lol) and then if everyone tacitly agreed it was good (usually by nodding to each other during the session) it would be practiced, worked upon and refined. Sometimes arguments result but that would be life, too. And sometimes, back then, you might have your own little groupie, just some guy who thinks its cool to just hang out and watch and shout encouragement (thumbs up if you LIKE this!)…but these days you could just drop out of church choir, put something on YouTube, get a bunch of hits and along comes the world beating a path to your door and you are a global superstar. Meanwhile who are you really, where do you come from and why did you want to be a rock star? For Justin those kinda tough questions come later. I think how Sonny Bono and his mates started out in a rough and tumble world when the world had a harder edge. It still has that edge but seeing it and experiencing it has got to be a different thing than watching it on TV. Music has affected and changed the world, from world hunger to ending apartheid, to political movements. So rock on Justin. Too bad you will never ever really know the meaning and value of hard work (fast tracker) and perseverance you phony little zit cream spokesperson. Before you could start out with a hometown base, people you loved and loved you and cheered for you, you put your name and your home town on the map. People will always remember where you are from. Not so with JB I think I forgot already. Oh yes now I remember, isnt his hometown that place called YouTube? He personifies snotty eastern bred values with a dollop of preppiness for good measure. So put your mustache and beard shadows on his photos now while the going is good. This could take come time. :)
Patricia Boyle

I think that his notoriety has gone to his head and he should refrain from commenting on matters of which he has no knowledge.

Guest

Seriously? you've never answered a single question that you weren't 100% sure on? That's all he did here, and his FULL answer (the one with the deleted sentence put back in) is actually very professional and clear. Read something once in a while, too many people read a headline, judge it, then open their mouths… Hope your foot tastes good ;)

Memi

The flippant HEADLINE in this poorly constructed pseudo-story tells us more about Maclean's attitude toward its women readers than all the interviews Little Bieber will ever be subjected to!

Hey, Scotty, sure, there's nothing like a catchy headline by your Macleans gofer-boys to get attention, eh?

Some real sensitivity shown here by Macleans' deteriorating sense of journalistic integrity! A "sensitivity" that would at least have demanded a less insulting attitude to victims of violent crimes — and some respect to women.

Hell, Scotty, why don't you pick more hilarious subjects, eh?!
lara

MACLEANS' HEADLINE IS DISGUSTING! Unless you're celebrating with the boys at Tahrir Square….with "I got my Religion" Bieber-type mature grasp of issues!

Way to go Feschuck!
Joe3

No, this ain't funny, Scot Fffschuk. Get a grip on ironic humour, semantics and enroll at a Writers' Class at a College of your choice. Your "story" on Bieber's lack of maturity really exposes your own inferiority complex….
JenniferMack

I'm seeing this post after SF has already added the update… and besides the fact that I want to put my two cents in that the title of this piece is disgusting and unfair, I can't decide whether Feschuk is being deliberately ironic when he says "which is a pretty big omission on Rolling Stone‘s part, don’t you think?” After the "pretty big omission" in the quote he used himself, I sure hope so.
Frank LeVay

Sixteen is NOT too young to know right from wrong. This honest young person by his straight answers puts to shame the smug self-styled "sophisticates" who refuse to acknowledge the obvious, that every abortion kills an innocent human and so is intrinsically evil.
A sorry article by Freschuk and another black-eye for Mcleans.
1 persons opinion

I think the question was beyond him but I do think his music is respectful of young relationships compared to the many other songs on the radio that our children listen to, you know those hip hop songs full of sex and disrespect (these are breeding grounds for brainwashing our youth) and I am there are more "rapes" happening because of them.