Justin Bieber showed up to last night's 2016 iHeart Music Radio Awards with a blonde bang of hair styled to mirror dreadlocks and naturally, controversy sparked. The pop sensation posted a few pictures of his new do on his Instagram and fans expressed their range of sentiments in the comments—many of which were outraged at Bieber's cultural appropriation of the black hairstyle. Backstage at the award show, Bieber was recorded talking to Big Sean where he stated that people said to him, "You want to be black and all of that stuff people say. I'm like, 'it's just my hair."
Although members of Bieber's massively supportive fan base attempted to defend him, the large number of people who didn't agree with his hair style took to Twitter to call him out for hijacking the look.
"You wanna be black and all that stuff people say, I'm like it's just my hair." OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/z06TXnhRhC
— ⭐️ (@bieberblaze) April 4, 2016
Justin Bieber's new hair reminds me of that Tumblr post about how white people dreadlocks look like Grinch fingers. pic.twitter.com/fqxh2OUhY3
— Rachael Krishna (@RachaelKrishna) April 4, 2016
ok so heres me using justin bieber as a reaction pic to justin bieber's newest hair. pic.twitter.com/7Tku6zb5Lc
— it's me, bri? (@thinkbri) April 3, 2016
Justin Bieber looks like he's going through a mid-life crisis with the blonde hair and all that appropriation
— honey lemon ✨ (@IIstarchildII) April 4, 2016
I wouldn't care about @justinbieber hair if we weren't being profiled, expelled, attacked etc. For the hairstyle he's praised for.
— She Da God (@she_da_god) April 4, 2016
Why is no one talking about @justinbieber's trashy culturally appropriating hair?
— lauren (@pizzaandperry) April 4, 2016
Justin Bieber does not have dreadlocks. From what I can see, all he has is unkempt, unwashed hair.
— Chidera Ota (@chideraota) April 4, 2016
Why does Justin bieber have matted hair that we are referring to as locs
— Mes. (@itsmeseret) April 4, 2016
justin bieber said "its just my hair lol" if its JUST hair then dont do it if it offends people
— (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (@zaynosava) April 4, 2016
Just saw a picture of Justin Bieber's hair in the beginning stages of locking. Please, don't do this.
— Jemila Dunham (@jemiladunham) April 4, 2016
R u there Jah ? It's I, Justin pic.twitter.com/xqUwBXMOIl
— KING BEN SOLOMON (@KINGS0L0M0N) April 4, 2016
BIEBER MOVED TO PORTLAND HE RIDING A BIKE IN FRYE BOOTS TO THE LOCAL VEGAN BROCOLLI PATCH pic.twitter.com/al0tz0LIma
— The Kid Mero (@THEKIDMERO) April 4, 2016
