Justin Bieber: I'm Not Headed for a Breakdown

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From the gas masks to his ever-growing shirtless appearances, Justin Bieber has come under fire as of late for his increasingly troubling behavior. Reacting to the criticism, the 19-year-old attempted to assuage fans' worries in a recent interview with Us Weekly.

"I'm young and I make mistakes. That's part of growing up," explained the Biebs. "I mess up sometimes. It's part of growing up."

After being photographed sans shirt in public on multiple occasions this year, Bieber told Us Weekly's Entertainment Director Ian Drew that there were always perfectly good reasons he was seen partially disrobed.

In regards to a memorable snap taken by a paparazzo on February 28, Bieber said, "I still had part of my tour wardrobe on and was rushing into my hotel."

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As for the times he's been seen sporting a gas mask, the singer explained that the stunt was just a gag and meant to be taken as fun.

"I wanted to hide my face from all the cameras," he said. "They got it as a joke. My friends and I like messing around."

Bieber, however, did not go into recent accusations of battery stemming from an altercation with his neighbor on Tuesday. Instead, the 19-year-old defended his character from so-called detractors.

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"The biggest misconception about me is that I'm a bad person," he revealed "I get upset about that. I have a big heart. I want to be a good role model, but some people want me to fail."

You can read more of Bieber's interview on UsWeekly.com.