Justin Bieber claims media attack was just a Summer Heights High reference

Justin Bieber says he was just "joking around" when he told a TV reporter to "f*** off".

The Sorry hitmaker was caught on camera insulting a TV journalist during his stay on a private Sunshine Coast island in Australia.

But Bieber has made light of the situation in an Instagram video, saying he was merely imitating Jonah from Tonga, a character played by Chris Lilley on the comedy show Summer Heights High.

Speaking in a Tongan accent, Bieber said: "I said puck you, miss! There's a difference between bullying him and joking around. I was joking around."

Bieber, 23, addressed the reporter directly in the caption that sits alongside the video.
The chart-topping star wrote: "SORRY BEN - If you don't get the context its from an Australian TV show called 'Summer Heights High'. (sic)"

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However, Bieber subsequently went on to send more abuse in the direction of the reporter and the "news lady" who reported the incident.

Again adopting the persona of Jonah, he said: "Sorry Ben! Motherf*****r! (sic)"

Bieber later added: "I was doing it for fun. You just didn't get that it was fun. You on your period or what, miss?"

Bieber has rarely been out of the headlines during his tour of Australia, where it was recently reported he hand-picked a dozen models to party with during a late-night cruise.

All of the women were asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement and surrender their phones before boarding his boat.

Roze Cook and Nyssa Large, who Bieber follows on Instagram, were among the 12 glamorous girls hand-picked for the three-hour trip.

But Bieber returned to his hotel alone after his boat docked after midnight early on Sunday morning.