This July 22, 2012 photo shows singer Justin Bieber arriving at the Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, Calif. Bieber recently told Rolling Stone he thinks his native heritage entitles him to free gas in Canada. The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples says it's simply not true that aboriginal people get to fill up for free, and offered to help Beiber trace his native ancestry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Jordan Strauss/Invision
August 03, 2012 - 2:07 PM
OTTAWA - An aboriginal group is giving Justin Bieber the benefit of the doubt over comments the Canadian pop star made to Rolling Stone magazine.
Bieber recently told Rolling Stone he thinks his native heritage entitles him to free gas in Canada.
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples says it's simply not true that aboriginal people get to fill up for free.
The Canadian group attributed the misconception to Bieber's youth and inexperience, adding the teen singer shouldn't be beat up over the comment.
The Congress says it doesn't think Bieber was trying to be malicious, or making a joke of aboriginal issues.
It also offered to help the 18-year-old star from Stratford, Ont., trace his native ancestry.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012