Justin Bieber Snapped With "Smoldering Blunt"

Justin Bieber has kicked off 2013 with his first drug scandal, since photos surfaced on TMZ of the pop superstar smoking a "smoldering blunt" in a Newport Beach hotel room. In one of the photos, the 18-year-old singer is holding what appears to be a joint, while surrounded by pals drinking beer. Sources claim Bieber and his friends, including rapper Lil Twist, were passing around cannabis cigarettes, resulting in “a lot of pot smoke." On Saturday, Bieber responded to the photos, tweeting: “Everyday growing and learning. trying to be better. u get knocked down, u get up. back on tour tomorrow. ready to see u all smile. time to do what im supposed to be doing. performing.” The "Baby" singer later wrote: ”i see all of u. i hear all of u. i never want to let any of you down. i love u. and..thank u. #beliebers. like i said…2013…new challenges. new doubters…Im ready. We are ready. see u all tomorrow and everyday after that.” Just a day before the photos were taken, a paparazzo named Chris Guerra was accidentally killed while pursuing the singer’s car on New Year's Day. Unconfirmed reports have claimed that Guerra saw the pop star smoking marijuana from a pipe in his white Ferrari, which prompted the photographer to chase his car in the first place. Just a few months ago, Bieber told Oprah Winfrey he would never let his stardom drag him into "the mistake of getting into drugs or alcohol."