An aboriginal group called Justin Bieber out on comments the Canadian pop star recently made to Rolling Stone magazine.
Bieber told the magazine he believes his native heritage entitles him to free gas in Canada.
The teen sensation is quoted in the article as saying, “I'm actually part Indian. I think Inuit or something? I'm enough per cent that in Canada I can get free gas.”
However, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples said on Thursday that Bieber’s comment is simply not true.
“These kinds of remarks are another example of what Aboriginal Peoples in Canada struggle with every day,” said National Chief Betty Ann Lavallée in a news release. “It promotes the misconception that we are somehow getting a free ride. This simply is not the case and we are concerned that many people may believe what he said.”
The group said they’ll give Bieber the benefit of the doubt over the comments and said his youth and inexperience attributed to the misconception.
“We don’t think he was trying to be malicious, or making a joke of Aboriginal issues,” added national vice-chief Dwight Dorey.
The congress, which represents off-reserve status and non-status Metis and First Nations Canadians throughout Canada, said while they can’t confirm if Bieber is in fact of Aboriginal descent, they offered to help the 18-year-old trace his ancestry.
In response to Bieber’s comments, Toronto’s Museum of Inuit Art began offering free admission until the end of August for Canadians to learn more about aboriginal culture.
Bieber’s comment to Rolling Stone was not his first public gaffe.
During an appearance on David Letterman’s late-night talk show in June, Bieber mistakenly referred to the Sistine Chapel as the “Sixteenth” Chapel.
Letterman mocked his guest’s mistake and his “Canadian high school” education. He ended up apologizing to the teen for being “snappish.”
