[Offensive or Harmless?] Justin Bieber Says Sorry For Vintage ‘Run N*gger’ Joke

Some unflattering footage of a well-known pop star has just been released. Justin Bieber (20) was caught on camera dropping the N-word, while telling a joke to some of his friends. At the time, Justin was believed to be 17 15.

On the clip, Justin asks a woman sitting near him:

Why are black people afraid of chain saw?

Someone off camera, who we assume is a friend or in Justin’s camp, tries to prevent him from telling the joke saying:

Don’t even say it, don’t say it

Nonetheless, Justin continues sharing the punchline:

Run n–ger, n–ger, n–ger, n–ger, n–ger.

Watch the clip.

According to The Sun, Justin’s team knew about the offensive video clip and had offered money for it to never surface. It was allegedly shot as part of his 2011 documentary “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” but it didn’t make the final cut. Justin’s camp has yet to respond. [Page Six]

P.S. Was Justin’s joke offensive or harmless? And if it is offensive, should get get a pass because he was only 17? 

UPDATED // 8:58 a.m. EST x June 2nd

Justin has since issued an apology to Associated Press:

I’m very sorry. I take all my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable behavior. I thought it was ok to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but I didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance. Thanks to friends and family I learned from my mistakes and grew up and apologized for those wrongs. Now that these mistakes from the past have become public I need to apologize again to all of those who I have offended.

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