After a scandal erupted this week surrounding Justin Bieber’s controversial comments about abortion, (specifically in cases of rape) Rolling Stone is now doing some backpedaling about the quote in question, issuing a correction:
The original quote online was listed as:
“I really don’t believe in abortion,” Bieber says. “It’s like killing a baby?” How about in cases of rape? “Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that.”
The ‘everything happens for a reason’ line certainly raised some eyebrows. Still, many gave the remark, (including myself) a pass since he’s really too young to be articulate about this kind of thing – and was probably completely thrown off guard. But now, they’ve issued a correction with a new version of what he said, which is a little less decisive on the issue:
“Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I don’t know how that would be a reason. I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that.”
And yet, Rolling Stone isn’t completely off the hook. Many are still criticizing the mag for even asking Bieber, who is 16, about the issue at all. The attempt to be provocative may have backfired. In this case, no one wins.
