Aboriginal Group Ticked at Justin Bieber Over ‘Free Gas’ Comment

Open mouth, insert sneaker-clad foot. That's been the case lately for Justin Bieber. After a verbal gaffe where he insulted Prince William's thinning crown stirred the ire of Brits, the Biebs has ticked off an aboriginal group. What did he say now? Well, he made an incredibly cavalier comment, saying that he is part aboriginal and because of this ancestry, he should be entitled to free gas. Wait, what?

"I'm actually part Indian. I think Inuit or something?" Bieber told Rolling Stone in his August cover story (quotes courtesy of CBC.) "I'm enough percent that in Canada I can get free gas."

Whoa. Biebs, what are you doing? You can't just toss off information like that arbitrarily. You can't say you are part "Inuit or something" and not expect to ruffle the feathers of people from those cultures and ancestries.

Turns out the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples were miffed (but not infuriated) that he perpetuated a stereotype about gas laws, and addressed the statements, saying they need to be cleared up. They also offered to help Biebs learn more about his ancestry and to find out of whom he is a descendant.

The group's national chief, Betty Ann Lavallée, pointed out that the idea that "aboriginal people are entitled to free gas is simply not true. These kinds of remarks are another example of what aboriginal peoples in Canada struggle with every day. It promotes the misconception that we are somehow getting a free ride. This simply is not the case and we are concerned that many people may believe what he said."

The group didn't want to throw Bieber under the bus for his seemingly un-PC comments. Instead, they want to promote understanding and help educate him about his origins. They even asked the online haters to ease up on their criticism of his commentary. "It's important for someone to know where they come from, which helps give them a better understanding of where they are going," Lavallee said.

Furthermore, the Museum of Inuit Art offered free admission throughout August as a result of Bieber's comment. The museum brass also offered the singer a tour so he can brush up on his personal history. He has yet to take them up on the offer.

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