After weeks of mounting speculation and resurfaced footage from his teenage years, Justin Bieber has publicly addressed rumors that he was sexually abused by music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The statement, issued by Bieber’s spokesperson on Thursday, comes in the wake of Combs’ ongoing criminal trial in New York, where he faces serious federal charges, including two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
Bieber: “I Am Not a Victim”
In a statement to TMZ, Bieber’s representative made clear that while the pop star is not among Combs’ alleged victims, he stands with those who were genuinely harmed:
“Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him. Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve.”
This is the first time Bieber, 30, has publicly responded to the swirling online speculation surrounding his relationship with Combs during the early years of his career.
The Videos That Sparked Concern
The speculation began after a series of old videos resurfaced on social media, raising alarm bells among fans and critics. In one clip from 2009, when Bieber was just 15, Combs is seen speaking to the young singer by a car, saying:
“As soon as you turn 16, I’m gonna let you rock this car.”
He continues:
“He’s having 48 hours with Diddy, where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.”
Another widely circulated clip showed Combs on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2011, telling Bieber, “He knows better than to be talking about things that he does with Big Brother Puff on national television.” In yet another video, Combs questions a visibly uncomfortable Bieber about their lack of recent contact, prompting the singer to awkwardly respond, “I’m all good.”
What was once seen as playful or promotional now appears, to many, as troubling in light of Combs’ current charges and growing allegations of misconduct within the music industry.
A Mentor or Something More?
Bieber was first introduced to Combs through Usher, who helped launch Bieber’s career in the late 2000s. At the time, Diddy portrayed himself as a mentor to the rising pop sensation, offering him access to the glamorous and fast-paced world of hip-hop royalty.
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