Justin Bieber Talks Michael Jackson’s Lasting Legacy

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Justin Bieber,Michael Jackson,Billy Bush,Access Hollywood,Cirque du Soleil,Pop,Twitter,Music

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Access Hollywood
Justin Bieber with Billy Bush at the Michael Jackson hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, January 26, 2011

FIRST PUBLISHED: January 26, 2012 4:24 PM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Justin Bieber was on hand on Thursday as the late Michael Jackson was immortalized at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre’s famed hand and footprint courtyard, and the Canadian superstar said he still laments the loss of the King of Pop.

“You know what? I wish I would’ve been able to meet him,” Justin told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush, who hosted the event, which featured a performance by the Cirque Du Soleil “Immortal World Tour” team and was attended by Michael’s family and children. “It was really sad that… I basically released my first single the week he passed, so it was really unfortunate. So I feel like, it’s just really sad. That was one person I really wanted to meet.”

On such a big day, Justin said he was thinking about Michael’s tremendous legacy – something that continues to inspire the teen performer.

“He’s an icon,” Justin told Billy. “Every time that I go out on stage, every time I go out and perform, I’m always trying to be the best and that’s what he always did… And there’s never gonna be another Michael Jackson as long as anyone lives. I think that he’s just incredible and it’s an honor to be here.”

Justin recently made a remarkable contribution of his own, helping to increase organ donors in his native Canada by simply reTweeting a message from a young woman who needs a lung transplant. And on Thursday, Justin revealed he had a connection to the Twitter user Helene Campbell.

“My grandmother actually knows the girl, so she, my grandmother was like, ‘Can you Tweet this?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, of course.’ It was for an amazing cause, so I Tweeted it and yeah, donors went up like crazy,” he said.

Justin said he hasn’t yet connected with Helene, but he was planning to speak with her soon.

“I think we’re in the works right now of working out a phone call,” he said.

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