Justin Bieber's comments from years ago about wanting to “protect” Billie Eilish from the music industry have resurfaced following Sean “Diddy” Combs' arrest on sex trafficking and extortion charges.
Bieber, 30, spoke out about his feelings for Eilish in 2020 Speaking with Apple Music's Zane Lowe Ahead of the release of the album “Changes.”
A tearful Bieber spoke to Lowe about his experiences in the music industry as a young artist. The “Baby” singer became an overnight success at just 14 years old, signing with Combs protégé Usher's record label in 2008.
“It was hard being young and in this industry and not knowing where to turn and having people tell you they love you and then just turn their back on you,” Bieber said.
“I just want to protect her,” the singer added about Eilish, who was just 18 at the time of Bieber's interview.
“I don't want her to go through what I went through. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.”
Like Bieber, Eilish rose to superstardom at a young age: her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, reached No. 1 in the US and spawned several hit singles.
Speaking about the personal struggles he endured in the public eye as he came of age, Bieber said that at some points, “it was awful … it was dark.”
“Think about how young and impressionable I was and how everyone was always telling me how amazing I was,” he explained.
“I just want people to understand the psychology of why problems may occur in their lives.”
The pop hitmaker also admitted that she had “lived with shame” about “everything about my past.”
Meanwhile, Eilish hopes to be a “good role model” for her, saying, “Anytime she needs me, I'm here. I'm just a phone call away.”
While Bieber didn't mention Combs by name in the interview, many on social media have been drawing their own conclusions about what the singer may be alluding to, following a recent resurgence in attention over a video showing a “creepy” interaction between Diddy and a 15-year-old Bieber.
“He's spending 48 hours with Diddy, but I can't tell you where he is or what he's doing,” Combs said in the video.
“But it's definitely a 15-year-old's dream.”
“I was awarded custody of him,” Combs continued, “he was signed to Usher and I was Usher's legal guardian when he made his first album.”
The music mogul added: “I do not have legal guardianship of him. [Bieber] But for the next 48 hours he's going to be with me and we're going to be crazy.”
In another recently resurfaced video, Khloe Kardashian recalled running into Bieber at Combs' A-list party in 2014, saying “half the guests were naked.”
The Post has reached out to Bieber's representatives.
Federal prosecutors allege in an unsealed indictment against Diddy that the hip-hop star hosted “freak-off” parties where he lured women and forced them to perform sexual acts with male prostitutes.
The party was recorded, allegedly providing material that Combs could use to blackmail or extort the victim.
Combs is charged with sex trafficking, extortion and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held in a federal detention center in New York awaiting trial.
