Well we didn’t see this one coming but actor and comedian, Russell Brand has jumped to the defence of  Justin Bieber. Yes, you read that right.

This comes after controversial footage was leaked during the week, of a 14-year-old Justin making a joke about killing “n**gers” and joining the Ku Klux Klan.

But Russell insists Justin shouldn’t be criticised because the comments were said when he was a lot younger.

“It was ages ago when he used to have that haircut. You can’t do him for stuff he done when he had that haircut.”

Brand did admit that it was wrong to use the “N-word” but insists he shouldn’t be “destroyed” because of his high profile.

“Unless we’re going to explicitly say the role of celebrities is we’re going to make them really, really famous and then we’re going to destroy them and rip them up in a public square with fish hooks, which, you know as long as you don’t get round to me, I’m not against. But we might as well own up to it if that is what we’re up to, otherwise just let him off. Of course it’s wrong to say the ‘N-word’, but he’s a child.”

Of course Russell can probably relate to the criticism that Justin is currently facing, as Russell himself was surrounded by controversy in 2008 for a rude phonecall he made live on air on BBC Radio.

Justin has apologised for the comments made in the video and said he was “a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again”.

Justin also posted bible passages on Twitter yesterday which were both related to forgiveness.

Hmmm, Justin may have apologised but we doubt this controversy is going anywhere anytime soon.