Justin Bieber is not wasting any time letting the heat around him escalate any further. He has issued an apology for the racist joke he told on a video that has recently surfaced.

As previously reported by TheCelebrityCafe.com, the 2011 footage showed younger Bieber telling a racist joke and then proceeding to use the N-word repeatedly.

The singer released a statement hours after the video went public, apologizing for his actions and explaining that he was a kid back then and he didn't understand that it was not okay to repeat hurtful words.

He continued to say that he has learned from his past mistakes and insisted he will not make them again.

The apology statement was issued to TMZ, and it said, “"I'm very sorry. I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake. I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again."