Just a small town boy, born and raised in…Canada? Justin Bieber has come a long way since he first burst onto the music scene in 2010, but inside, he's still just a "small town kid" with big dreams — or so he says. On the heels of his DUI arrest in Miami and assault charge in Toronto, the 19-year-old "Heartbreaker" singer took to Twitter to acknowledge his Canadian roots.
"Never forget where you come from or those who supported you before anyone else," he tweeted on Thursday, Jan. 30. "Still the small town kid. Thanks."
He then included a link to an article from the London Free Press, in which people from Bieber's hometown of Stratford, Canada, defended the pop star's recent behavior. "As far as I'm concerned, he is a 19-year-old person who has made some errors. I don't condone them, but I also understand that we all have made errors in our life," Mayor Dan Mathieson said.
Added high school principal Martin Ritsma: "He was an everyday, average young man then and, in my heart of hearts, he's still that everyday young man. We can put him under a microscope and judge, but that's something I'm not prepared to do."
Bieber has also gotten support recently from his father, Jeremy Bieber. After his DUI arrest last week, the star was spotted hanging out with his dad in Miami. And on Wednesday, Jan. 29, Jeremy shared a picture of his son sleeping next to younger brother Jaxon at home.
"I have the greatest Dad in the world," the teen wrote on Instagram, alongside a picture of his father wearing a Batman beanie. "He's taught me how to love, learn, and stay true to myself. I will forever be grateful because he was my superhero."
