Usher Talks Justin Bieber: ‘He’s A Teenager Having To Live His Life In Front Of A Camera’

Usher has defended the behavior of his protege, Justin Bieber, telling Ellen DeGeneres he puts the singer’s actions down to youth.

“I think all of us, in some way, have humble beginnings that pan out to be incredible and we hope that in his transition, as friends and family who have helped him be who he is, that he’ll continue to just mature,” Usher told Ellen in a taping for Tuesday’s “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Usher suggested that nowadays, celebrities end up growing up while the world is watching.

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“In this [day and] age of social media, there is no privacy and that kind of trial and elimination period is kind of done in front of a camera. … Many other celebrities are product of it and some come out bad and some come out good.

“I am hoping for the best,” Usher continued. “I don’t look at as a negative though, I look at it as a teenager — he’s a teenager having to live his life in front of a camera. Imagine if you had to do that as a teenager.”

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Asked if he and The Biebs talk, Usher said that they do.

“We talk as much as possible. I mean, me [and Justin’s manager] Scooter [Braun], we stay in contact,” he said. “Obviously, when I can be of help, I do so. [I] reach out and stay connected.”