Pop star Justin Bieber has broken his silence amid speculation on social media that he was a victim of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Diddy is currently on trial in New York on federal charges of sex trafficking.
A representative for Bieber told TMZ on Thursday: “Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him.”
They continued: “Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve.”
Speculation swirled online as videos of joint appearances by the pair resurfaced from when Bieber was still a teenager, some fifteen years ago, that included allusions to sexual acts.
Sources told TMZ that these public appearances were “performative,” and that there was no relationship with Diddy, though he was friends with the hip-hop mogul’s sons.
The outlet says the sources stated that Diddy never sexually or otherwise abused Bieber.
In one clip from an appearance by the pair on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2011, Diddy said that Bieber “knows better than to be talking about things that he does with Big Brother Puff on national television.”
In 2009, in a video in which they were seen spending time together, they are seen outside a house, standing by a car. Diddy then said: “As soon as you turn 16, I’m gonna let you rock this car.”
The rapper also said he couldn’t disclose where they were or what they were doing, but that it was a “15-year-old’s dream.”
He added: “For the next 48 hours, he’s with me and we’re gonna go buck full crazy.”
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