Justin Bieber recently posted a statement on social media to acknowledge his reliance on black culture.- "I am inspired by black culture. I have benefited off of black culture," he wrote on Saturday. "My style, how I sing, dance, perform, and my fashion have all been influenced and inspired by black culture."
- Bieber also vowed to be an ally for the black community moving forward.
- "I am committed to using my platform from this day forward to learn, to speak up about racial injustice and systemic oppression, and to identify ways to be a part of much needed change," he wrote.
- Previously, in December, Bieber apologized for making "really hurtful" comments about race when he was younger and "uneducated."
Justin Bieber recently posted a statement on social media to acknowledge his reliance on black culture.
"I am inspired by black culture. I have benefited off of black culture," he wrote on Saturday. "My style, how I sing, dance, perform, and my fashion have all been influenced and inspired by black culture."
The 26-year-old pop star, who became Usher's protégé at just 13 years old, also vowed to be an ally for the black community moving forward.
"I am committed to using my platform from this day forward to learn, to speak up about racial injustice and systemic oppression, and to identify ways to be a part of much needed change," he wrote.
Over the past week, as protests have swept the country in response to George Floyd's murder, Bieber has shared multiple messages of support for the
Previously, in December, Bieber apologized for making "really hurtful" comments about race when he was younger and "uneducated."
"Racism is still very prevalent and I want to use my voice to remind we are all human beings and all of equal value before God!" the singer wrote on Instagram, alongside an image of the phrase "Stand Against Racism."
Although Bieber didn't reference a specific moment in his Instagram post, he was likely referring to two different videos that surfaced in 2014, which both showed a 14-year-old Bieber using the N-word.
In one of the videos, the singer was heard saying, "Why are black people afraid of chainsaws? Run n-----, n-----." In another, Bieber changed the lyrics of his hit song "One Less Lonely Girl" to "One less lonely n-----," and said, "If I kill you, I'll be part of the KKK."
Bieber was 20 years old when the videos began circulating online, and apologized for his "childish and inexcusable mistake."
"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," Bieber said in a statement, via CNN.
He added: "I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again."