Justin Bieber was 'choked' by rapper Post Malone, but they were just 'roughhousing'

The 20-year-old rapper snuffed out rumours on social media

Justin Bieber and Post Malone on the Purpose tour Instagram

For a moment, intense warfare appeared to breakout between young pop icon Justin Bieber and his rapping counterpart, Post Malone.

The UK tabloid The Sun published a photo of the two at a Houston, Texas, nightclub that showed Malone, 20, with his arm outstretched grasping Bieber’s throat. The grip reportedly came after Bieber, 22, had snuffed out a cigarette on Malone’s arm. Early reports speculated that the “White Iverson” artist had retaliated against Bieber.

What had gone wrong between the two? Was this beginning of the biggest music rivalry since Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls?

As it happens, Malone — who is currently accompanying Bieber on his Purpose tour — was “roughhousing” with his good friend.

He extinguished the rumours via Twitter.

Justin Bieber launched the Purpose tour on 9 March in Seattle, Washington, and it will conclude on 29 November in London.