Justin Bieber has refused to deny he is retiring.
The 19-year-old singer caused widespread amazement earlier this week when he announced he was through with music during a radio interview. His record Complete My Journals will be available for a limited time from December 23, after which he hinted he would slink away from the spotlight.
Last night the star attended the premiere of his movie Believe at the Regal Cinemas L.A. Live in Los Angeles, where he was quizzed on his comments.
"I don't know if that's a joke," he told MTV News. "I don't know. I don't know."
While he wouldn't be drawn on his career plans, the star admitted he needs a break. Wearing a bright red suit with rolled up sleeves, a white shirt and shades, Justin - who also sported the beginnings of a moustache - discussed what he'll be doing in the coming weeks.
"I wanna get to know my family more," he said. "[I want to use 2014 to] figure out myself as a man. I've been away so much, I've missed a lot of great years with my brother and sister."
Although his music future remains up in the air, Justin still took time to thank his fans. 2013 has been a tricky year for the star as he's had to get over his split from Selena Gomez and dealt with allegations of drug use and being a problem neighbour. He is glad those who love his tracks have stood by him.
"I want to say thank you so much to each and every one of you for staying by my side," he said. "I love you with all my heart."
Although Justin is staying on the fence about his remarks, his manager Scooter Braun has dismissed them. At the premiere he claimed the 'retirement' was actually just a period in which he'll be having a career break to focus on his private life.
During an interview on Access Hollywood Live, Scooter was insistent about Justin's music future.
"This is the fun thing about these Vines [videos] people post: they’re only a certain amount of time, so they cut off before the rest of the statement when he says ‘just kidding,'" he claimed.
"I think for his wellbeing at 19, 20 years old, [it’s good for him] to take time for himself, to figure out who he wants to be.”
He added that many of Justin's current feelings about his lifestyle are addressed in Believe. While his previous concert movie Never Say Never was about his rise to fame, Believe shows the toll being one of the most famous teenagers in the world has taken on the singer.
"I think he’s going through normal teenage stuff and he’s trying to fight this idea of wanting to be normal, but then the responsibility that comes with being who he is. We address all that in the film," Scooter said.
Jon M. Chu directed both films and was also at the premiere, along with Usher - the man who discovered Justin. As he was shooting the second release Jon began to realise how much Justin's life had changed and hopes it will encourage people to think twice before believing everything they read.
"All of the different events that happened and seeing how stories would get spun out of control and we were there and we know that wasn’t the truth. Just seeing him as a human being was really important because I’m a huge fan of pop culture but the more we try to see him as an object and try to tear him down for fun and entertainment I think is unfair," he told the American edition of OK! magazine.
