Maybe you all have heard about the recent uproar over Justin Bieber’s anti-choice comments in his recent interview with Rolling Stone. In case you haven’t here’s the important quote:
“I really don’t believe in abortion,” Bieber says. “It’s like killing a baby?” How about in cases of rape? “Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that.”
Now, why exactly the interviewer thought it might be a good idea to ask J.Biebs about his views on abortion is a mystery to me, since the last time I checked there’s hardly a cross-over between his work and reproductive rights. Regardless, Bieber’s comments can only be interpreted as ignorant at best and, at worst, downright insensitive and, well, fucked up. In light of a string of recently proposed anti-choice legislation, Bieber’s view strikes me as particularly infuriating, not just because his chances of getting raped and ending up pregnant are at a whopping zero percent, but also because his opinion matters simply because of who he is. This baby-faced teen is also an internationally known pop-star who has raked in more than $30 million, and who has legions of devoted and impressionable fans. What he says matters because his opinion helps form the opinions of thousands of people who look up to him. Justin Bieber has more influence and power now than the overwhelming majority of us will ever have, so for him to dismiss abortion rights simply by stating “it’s like killing a baby”, or dismiss rape as something that’s “really sad” but “happens for a reason” has the potential to have an incredibly negative effect on people’s thoughts concerning these issues (I also can’t even begin to go into how aggravating it is to hear rape described as “really sad”). While it’s impossible to say now what repercussions his comments might have, I can only hope that some of his fans will boycott his music and movie until his comments are retracted. Which would be, like, really sad for him, but everything happens for a reason.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 
You have to be kidding me. Yes, I’m glad
Freedom is speech exists, that’s why we have this blog. But those in “power,” those who can influence others especially future generations- especially young girls, need to watch what they say. Especially if you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about I.e Justin Beiber.
LikeLike
It’s obvious from the way he answered the question that he has probably never thought about his stance on abortion before, and being 16 years old, it isn’t that surprising. Not to say I agree or even like Justin Bieber in the slightest, but you have to keep in mind that being a celebrity has given him a raw deal when it comes to social and educational experiences. He hasn’t been able to really form his own ideas (and probably won’t for a long time).
It’s unfortunate that his fan base could potentially be swayed by his views, but I also doubt they are Google searching for his stance on abortion rights. I don’t think he should retract any statement. He answered honestly, and agree with it or not, it is what he believes at this time. I would rather he say what he honestly feels and thinks than to just regurgitate generic responses he was told he should believe.
As you said at the beginning, his work has little to do with reproductive rights. Whether people listen to his music or see his movie should be based on his talent (or lack thereof) rather than his political platforms.
LikeLike
To assume that, because of his age, Bieber is unable to think about issues like abortion or rape critically is patronizing. I know that at 16 the majority of my friends and I were vehemently pro-choice because we took the time to educate ourselves about the issues surrounding reproductive rights. In fact, I still know a number of 16 and 17 year olds who are capable of coherent and logical opinions about serious issues. His age does not excuse him from his comment, and the fact that he clearly hasn’t thought about these issues, yet doesn’t hesitate to spout his opinion doesn’t make him innocent, it makes him ignorant.
We also can’t assume that he hasn’t been exposed to these issues, or that his comment was what he “honestly feels”. Like I said, if he hasn’t taken the time to educate himself then his response WAS a “regurgitated generic response he was told he should believe” by one person/group or another. He’s also an internationally traveled celebrity who spends the majority of his time working with adults, and has probably had extensive media training. He’s hardly sheltered.
Also, his fans may not be specifically searching for his stance on abortion rights, but if you do Google Justin Bieber, one of the fist responses you get is an article talking about his stance on abortion. People who pick up the issue of Rolling Stone simply because it has Bieber’s face on it, as die-hard fans of celebrities tend to do, will also likely be exposed to his comments. Like Lauranium said, why the interviewer thought it necessary to ask Bieber his opinion on such a controversial topic is just as bothersome as the pop star’s response, because in one way or another the majority of his fans will probably be exposed to his comments.
LikeLike
I wasn’t making excuses, nor was I assuming things about Bieber, I was merely stating that maybe there is more to it, and it’s always healthy to look at both sides of the debate before attacking someone’s opinion.
I never said that just because he’s 16 he knows nothing. I would never be so bold to make a blanket statement like that about anything. You and your friends at 16 may have done a lot more researching into political and controversial topics, but I can assure that not all 16 year olds (or even 21 year olds) do. I will safely assume from your posts that in high school you were part of the more advanced track in education and possibly surrounded yourself with friends of above average intelligence as well. It would not be surprising that you put forth the extra effort not only to form your own educated opinion on something but to care about it enough to do research. The majority of teenagers and pre-teens don’t care to do more work than they are required to do. It’s a shame that people in this country aren’t more excited about learning about anything and everything, but it’s reality. So to assume that his producers, PR reps, and Usher expected him to be asked about his stance on abortion (as you and Lauranium have both stated that it was a pretty random and unexpected question) is just as ridiculous as assuming every 15 or 16 year old has taken the time to learn about important issues in life.
Also, again, I wasn’t saying that because he is a celebrity he can be ignorant or say whatever he wants. I was merely pointing out that his educational growth is not that of a “normal” teenage boy because he has been pushed through a completely different lifestyle since a young age and hasn’t had the same opportunities as you or I would have had. He may not be sheltered to things like drugs, alcohol, people of different races, etc.. but he is definitely sheltered from what it is like to live as an independent and free teenager. I would assume that he, like most child stars, is chaperoned most everywhere while having his every moment of every day scheduled for him.
We can all agree that it was a question that should have never been asked to him in the first place. He wasn’t spouting his opinion to the world, it’s not like he tried to bring up the subject. The reporter asked a question and he tried to answer it.
I would hope that his young, impressionable fans of any gender would have the same drive that you and your friends had, and research such controversial topics before forming an opinion about them.
LikeLike
Like I said before, just because Justin Bieber is young does not excuse him from his inability to empathize with other human beings, nor does it excuse him from being accountable for what he said. The reason I find his comments so appalling isn’t just because of who he is, but also because they are a reflection of a society that does not encourage young people to investigate the realities of the world around them.
This problem is bigger than Bieber, it’s about a culture that encourages people to treat survivors of sexual assault with contempt or scorn. Hearing people tell you “everything happens for a reason” after an assault is not just frustrating, it’s down right infuriating, and it’s about time people start getting called out on spouting that kind of bullshit.
LikeLike
I don’t think it is right to excuse him from his comment because he is young or because he is a celebrity. He hasn’t been living under a rock his entire life. 16-year-olds CAN think for themselves. HE’S no baby–no matter how much he whines the word in his stupid song.
What also really bothers me is the fact that the interviewer at Rolling Stone CHOSE to ask him this question and CHOSE to include it in the article. My guess is that the writer did this for at least one of two reasons: 1)To sell a shit-load of magazines, 2)To spread the word about his pro-life sentiments to all of his obsessive, young, IMPRESSIONABLE female fans.
The whole situation sickens me.
LikeLike