The Star Late Edition

Justin Bieber regrets using N-word in song

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JUSTIN Bieber regrets making racist remarks when he was younger and has urged people to stand against racism. The 25-year-old singer was caught on camera using offensive terms when he was 14 – including one clip where he changed the chorus to his song One Less Lonely

Girl by substituti­ng “girl” for the N-word – and he has admitted he didn’t truly realise “the power” of what he had to say.

Alongside an Instagram post bearing the words “STAND AGAINST RACISM”, he wrote: “When I was young I was uneducated and found myself saying really hurtful things not knowing the power of my words. Racism Is still very prevalent and I want to use my voice to remind we are all human being and all of EQUAL VALUE BEFORE GOD!”

The Love Yourself hitmaker – who is married to model Hailey Bieber – previously issued an apology five years ago after TMZ shared a video of him telling a racist joke when he was 15. The website explained they had received the clip – which was shot backstage at a promotiona­l event – four years prior to that but decided not to post it.

After it was published, the Canadian singer apologised for his “inexcusabl­e mistake”. He said: “As a young man, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt. I thought it was OK to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance.

“I take my friendship­s with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologise for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusabl­e mistake.” | Bang Showbiz

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