If the media’s not more considerate of Justin Bieber‘s feelings, the pop star fears he may end up like Amy Winehouse.
“I watched the Amy Winehouse documentary on the plane and I had tears in my eyes because I could see what the media was doing to her, how they were treating her,” he told NME on Thursday. “People thought it was funny to poke her when she was at rock bottom, to keep pushing her down until she had no more of herself. And that’s what they were trying to do to me.”
The documentary, “Amy,” centers on the way media — and men — exploited the singer’s mental illness to be a profitable commodity, prompting many news outlets to post headlines like “Did the Internet Kill Amy Winehouse?” The “Valerie” singer died in 2011 after suffering from accidental alcohol poisoning.
In the interview, Bieber also revealed that he just wants people — both his haters and adoring Beliebers — to see the real Justin.
“I just want people to know I’m human,” he said. “I’m struggling just to get through the days. I think a lot of people are. You get lonely, you know, when you’re on the road. People see the glam and the amazing stuff, but they don’t know the other side. This life can rip you apart.”
In past months, Bieber has given the media a lot to talk about. Within a week, the pop singer walked off stage during a performance, and stormed out of a Spanish radio interview because the hosts asked him to help them “break the internet.” The 21-year-old still believes that the media is out to get him, saying that our culture thrives seeing celebrities fall.
“It’s because of the way the Justin Bieber brand was portrayed,” he continued. “I was a wholesome pop star who was so amazing who had nice hair and a fucking image that no one could ever live up to. So when all this happened people were like, ‘Woah, let’s rip him apart.’ If you see Gandhi roll up a blunt, it’s different to seeing Ryan Gosling roll up a blunt. You wouldn’t give Ryan Gosling a hard time.”
11 Buzziest Ellentube Viral Clips: From Jennifer Aniston to Justin Bieber (Videos)
Ellen had some fun with "Today" show host Matt Lauer, first photoshopping him into an BDSM outfit ahead of the racy "50 Shades of Grey" premiere, and then this -- a clothes-tearing sexy moment with Florence Henderson. Your move, Lauer.
After "The Voice" judge Gwen Stefani told Ellen she loved to sleep but doesn't really have much time for naps, she got the surprise of a lifetime: The most comfortable napping chair... with fellow judge Pharrell Williams in it.
In honor of "Madonna Week" on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the daytime talk show host secretly taped her audience singing "Vogue" during the pre-show warmup. Turns out, nobody really knows the words to the iconic 80s song.
6-year-old Kai Langer sings with Bruno Mars. Need we say more?
There's nothing more fun than watching Ellen prank her own staff. This one had the talk show host sending her producer Andy and his assistant to a haunted house. It's kinda priceless.
After a series of racy and hilarious "Fifty Shades of Grey"-themed gags starring the digitally-enhanced "Today" anchor, DeGeneres did it again. This time giving Matt Lauer an awesome foot fetish.
Ellen pulled one big surprise on a kindergarten teacher from New Mexico who had no idea what she was in for. We dare you not to cry.
Ellen had some fun with the Biebs, scaring the daylights out of the Canadian-born singer just before his Comedy Central roast.
Will Smith gave 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" fans a treat when he sang the theme song to his 90s hit sitcom. Smith had the audience on their feet during his performance.
After being the butt of Ellen's jokes for weeks, Matt Lauer finally got his revenge,
filling Ellen's car with... wait for it, Ping Pong balls.
Ellen surprised Jennifer Aniston, taking the actress to her old stomping ground: Central Perk Cafe. Watch Aniston's reaction as she tours her old set.
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From her ”Fifty Shades of Grey“-Matt Lauer pranks to a touching kindergarten teacher moment, Ellen DeGeneres’ most memorable videos
Ellen had some fun with "Today" show host Matt Lauer, first photoshopping him into an BDSM outfit ahead of the racy "50 Shades of Grey" premiere, and then this -- a clothes-tearing sexy moment with Florence Henderson. Your move, Lauer.