We’ve seen some weird stuff in 2019 but ranking among the most bizarre of happenings this year is the “feud” between Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan and Justin Bieber.
It all began when Biebs shared some Tool lyrics to his Instagram story and revealed himself to be a big fan of the band’s music. After this little tidbit reached Maynard James Keenan’s ears, the Tool frontman responded with a spirit crushing tweet:
Not enough ice in the world could help a burn of that magnitude but Justin’s wife, Hailey Bieber, gave it a good crack anyway by clapping back at the Tool frontman on Twitter and slamming him for shading her husband who just wanted to express his admiration for the band.
In response, James Keenan only tweeted out the video to a Tool oldie, ‘Hush’, which we’re sure he did to remind fans about how good the tune is. Really.
It’s been a while since the “feud” took place and James Keenan has now shed some light on what went down and what he actually meant when he tweeted #bummer to ol’ Biebs.
Speaking to Zane Rowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1, the Tool frontman says the “#bummer” was directed at “the crap that surrounds [Justin Bieber]” than at the singer himself. He also cleared the air by saying Justin’s “probably a good kid.”
That’s… weirdly nice?
Elaborating what he meant, James Keenan says Biebs “was never armed with the tools to handle [the spotlight]” and called the singer’s entourage surrounding him “monsters.”
“So when I make a statement like #bummer, it has nothing to do with him. It has to do with, I know that the ocean of s**t that’s going to follow because he couldn’t just be a quiet Tool fan, he had to say it out loud, and now I know the flood’s coming from the people that don’t get it, and the people that think they do, and they’re going to argue with each other.
“And it’s going to be stupid. And it doesn’t matter. And this poor kid’s caught right in the crosshairs, as he was, as he is.”
Well there you go. There wasn’t any feud after all, just something blown out of proportion because we all like the drama I suppose.
James Keenan also nailed the part about Biebs not being “armed with the tools,” so much so that you wonder if he saw the singer’s soul-searching (and problematic) Instagram post about his struggles and decided to share some nice words out of sympathy or something.
Anyway, it’s time to put whatever “feud” we thought existed between Justin Bieber and Maynard James Keenan to bed because it’s all bullcrap.
Hopefully ol’ Biebs can now enjoy Tool’s new album without thinking they hate him. But maybe keep the fanboying and sharing of song lyrics to Instagram on the down-low this time alright?