Justin Bieber Is '100 Percent Behind' Embattled Manager

'He is someone of high moral character and principle,' singer said of manager Scott 'Scooter' Braun.

By Eric Ditzian

In both his dress and his words, Justin Bieber has been coming to the defense of his embattled manager, Scott "Scooter" Braun, who was arrested Wednesday in connection with a disorderly mall appearance by the teen pop star in November.

Meeting fans in Chicago hours after the arrest, Bieber sported a "Free Scooter" T-shirt, and following Braun's not-guilty plea to charges of reckless endangerment, criminal nuisance and endangering the welfare of a child, the 16-year-old singer released a statement to The Associated Press defending his manager.

"My mother and I are 100 percent behind my manager," he said. "He is someone of high moral character and principle. The decisions he made that day were to protect the safety of myself and my fans and I am very thankful to have someone in my life who watches over me the way Scooter does."

Braun's arrest stemmed from an appearance at a Long Island, New York, mall that touched off unrest among the 3,000 fans who turned out to catch a glimpse of the singer. Police shut down the event when they were unable to control the crowd. Some fans refused to leave a narrow area in the mall where Bieber was supposed to sign autographs. The disturbance sent five people to the hospital with minor injuries.

Braun is accused of failing to notify fans that the appearance had been canceled in a timely manner. Police had asked Island Def Jam Records executives to send a tweet informing fans of the cancellation. Island Def Jam requested that Braun send a tweet, but after an hour, he had still not complied. Braun reportedly told police that he was in a meeting, without access to a computer. Over an hour later, Braun sent two tweets and the crowd dispersed within 15 minutes. Bieber never made it inside the mall.

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