Justin Bieber branded 'creepy' over 'inappropriate' message to teen 'Selena Gomez lookalike'
Justin Bieber is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons - this time, it's a social media comment that has fans up in arms.
The 31-year-old pop sensation, no stranger to controversy, has previously been criticized for defending Chris Brown after his prison release, and for publicly downplaying his wife Hailey Bieber's accomplishments, once stating she would "never be on the cover of Vogue." Now, he's under fire again for a comment he left on a post by 17-year-old actress Ariana Greenblatt, who many believe shares an uncanny resemblance to his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez.
Known for her role in Barbie, Ariana recently posted some glamorous behind-the-scenes snaps from the Fear Street: Prom Queen premiere. Donning a sparkling black sequin mini dress, the young starlet captioned the post: "Fear Street: Prom Queen is out now on Netflix!!! Horror has always been one of my favorite genres and to have this movie be my introduction into the world was an honor."
Fans were quick to shower her with compliments - until one particular comment caught their attention. "I love youuuuuuuuu," the Beauty and the Beat singer wrote under the post, a message that Ariana then liked.
While it's believed that the two are somewhat acquainted - Justin reportedly followed her on Instagram back in November 2023, around the same time as her modeling gig for Rhode, Hailey Bieber's skincare line - many online users felt that the singer had crossed a line.
Reddit users were quick to condemn the age-inappropriate interaction, with one top comment stating: "She's underaged and he's a grown man."
The same user also pointed out that Greenblatt "looks so similar to Selena Gomez so him just commenting to her like that makes it even weirder."
Another bluntly put it: "In no circumstance is it appropriate to comment this on a 17 year old girl's profile when you're a 31 year old man."
The general consensus was one of discomfort, with many calling the comment "disturbing" and "creepy." While another said: "He is 31 and this little girl is 17, that is so inappropriate. He could have left a sweet, appropriate message supporting her but of course he had to cross a line."
Some fans also criticized Bieber for being disrespectful to his wife, Hailey, noting: "Justin seem more supportive of a 17-year-old girl and Chris Brown than his own wife after her Vogue cover. He seems to enjoy embarrassing her at every opportunity."
This incident adds to Justin's recent controversial actions, including a retracted Instagram post where he doubted Hailey's chances of landing a Vogue cover, which he later recanted, saying: "So baby u already know but forgive me for saying u wouldn't get a Vogue cover cuz clearly I was sadly mistaken."
Despite the growing backlash, the father-of-one has yet to comment on the Greenblatt incident. He's been seen out and about in high spirits, most recently spotted in West Hollywood as discussions about his online conduct continue. As of now, the pop star hasn't responded to the criticism, leaving fans, critics, and followers to further analyze his increasingly contentious online presence.
By Susan Knox
