Justin Bieber's Pot Smoking Controversy
by Shannon Keirnan
Justin Bieber has certainly been in the spotlight lately. The unfortunate death of Bieber-obsessed paparazzo Chris Guerro has opened the door on Bieber’s marijuana use… surprising approximately 10% of Bieber fans. Maybe 15.
The incident occurred when Guerro saw the "Never Say Never" star's white Ferarri leaving a hotel, with what appeared to be a smoking Bieber behind the wheel. He followed, determined to get a photograph, and in his determination, was struck and killed by a car.
Beiber was not behind the wheel at the time—instead it was Lil Twist driving the car.
On January 2nd, Bieber was photographed smoking what does seem to be marijuana in his hotel room, and took to his Twitter to… sort of… apologize to impressionable fans.
“everyday growing and learning. Trying to be better. u get knocked down, u get up.”
He added appreciation for his fans, saying “i see all of u. i hear all of u. i never want to let any of you down. i love u. and.. thank you. #beliebers.”
Film critic Roger Ebert, probably like many, is asking the world… who cares?
“Who cares if Justin Bieber smokes pot?” Ebert tweeted in annoyance. “The waste of a life.”
Ebert opened up about the death of Guerra on his blog, refocusing attention away from a teenage boy smoking weed to the loss of a life in pursuit of a picture of it.
"I cast no blame. To be a paparazzi is a occupation we recognize in our culture. The mass media has an insatiable appetite for fragments from the lives of celebrities… Looking at online news, I find that the tragic death of Chris Guerra has inspired yet another round of calls to put an end to the Paparazzi Culture. This round will be as meaningless as all the previous rounds. We create a market for celebrity photos, and the economy assures it will be supplied.”