Justin Bieber apologises for 'mooning' on ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico

Is it too late now to say sorry?

Justin Bieber said he never meant to disrespect anybody ( Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Last month TMZ ran the no-nonsense headline: “Justin Bieber Booted For Baring Ass on Pyramids”, something the singer has now actually admitted and apologised for.

There were conflicting reports whether Bieber was mooning at the site of the ancient Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico and subsequently escorted off the premises. A representative for the archaeological site told Entertainment Tonight: “His mates pulled his pants down and insulted staff at the site".

Speaking to GQ magazine, as he covers their newest issue, Bieber confirmed that, yes, mooning did take place.

“Me and my boys have been doing this thing where we moon each other whenever we take a picture. So [my friend] went to take my picture, and I mooned him. And I guess [the guards] thought that I was being disrespectful to the site of whatever,” the 21-year-old said.

Bieber explained he visited the site because he “loves history” and “the Mayans had such a big impact on society today. Whether it’s the calendar, or whatever it may be.”

Bieber also used the interview to apologise for the incident and said he was not trying to be disrespectful.

“I immediately was like, ‘Man, I didn’t mean any disrespect…’ but they weren’t really having it… The Old Bieber came back and I wanted to smack them around a little bit. But I realised, you know what, obviously it looked bad, and it was disrespectful, because I was in their sacred area, showing my ass and stuff. But it was all in good fun. My boys - we do this wherever we are.

“… but yeah, you know, clarifying that, you know, to the Mayan people or whatever, whoever was… felt any disrespect, I’m truly sorry for that. I never meant to disrespect anybody.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Bieber reflected on the time his pet monkey, OG Mally, was taken away from him in Germany.

“Everyone told me not to bring the monkey. I was like, ‘It’s gonna be fine, guys!’ It was the farthest thing from fine.”