Getty ImagesJustin Bieber sparked the wrath of scores of Prince fans when he posted on Instagram a remark about the late singer many deemed insensitive.
The 22-year-old singer, who wasn't even born when the pop icon achieved worldwide fame with hits such as "Purple Rain" and "Kiss," had commented on a tribute post by musician and former California Breed guitarist Andrew Watt. He had called Prince, who died at age 57 Thursday, "the last of the greatest living performers."
"Well not the last greatest living performer," read a comment posted from Bieber's account, which many people screen-grabbed and posted elsewhere on social media.
Justin Bieber replies to an Instagram post calling Prince the last great living performer pic.twitter.com/ECFsfhwCWo
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Angry Prince fans immediately responded to the pop singer.
"@justinbieber 's comments were tasteless, disrespectful and lacked sensitivity and proof once again that Bieber needed to spend more time in a classroom or any learning environment that socializes you to others," one person wrote.
"@justinbieber, you're such a disrespectful a--hole!!!" another user said. "You'll NEVER be a legend like Prince."
Some defended Bieber.
"Damn, you don't even know if he was directing it towards himself or not," another person wrote. "Give the kid a break."
And some agreed with him.
"Not the right time to say this but @justinbieber is right!" one user said.
Bieber has not commented on Prince on his own page, unlike many celebs, including fellow popular singers and musicians such as Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who called the late star "one of the most unique and exciting artists of the last 30 years."