“Give Justin the benefit of the doubt”- Clipse address Justin Bieber’s Instagram repost dissing the duo

When Justin Bieber hit release on his surprise album SWAG on July 11, fans got more than just new tracks—they got drama. Unbeknownst to many, Bieber reshared an Instagram Story by fashion icon–turned-DJ Kerwin Frost that took a sharp jab at Clipse, labeling their fans “bitter grown men who collect Kaws dolls and shop at Kith and Union.” The move sparked immediate buzz in hip-hop and pop circles and Bieber quickly removed the post but by then the damage was done. In true hip-hop fashion, the spotlight turned to Clipse.

What followed was not a diss track response, but a measured, journalistically sharp message from the duo. And yes, they did address Justin Bieber’s Instagram repost dissing the duo, but with a twist: they urged skeptics to give Justin the benefit of the doubt. It’s a surprising call for calm amid a fast-moving controversy fueled by timing and tonal clash.

Clipse calmly address Justin Bieber’s repost—and urge perspective

From the jump, Clipse (Pusha T and No Malice) made it clear: they’re not eager to fuel flames. While Bieber technically amplified the diss by resharing Frost’s story, he never wrote the line himself. In public comments, a representative for Clipse called the situation “misunderstood,” urging fans to “give Justin the benefit of the doubt.” Essentially, let’s not assume this was a premeditated shot. Instead chalk it up to a rapid-fire repost that nearly backfired.

The duo emphasized that reposting someone else’s words isn’t equivalent to issuing a personal insult and they don’t want to escalate. Their position reads as measured, even diplomatic: no diss track, no smokes. Just a reminder that, in this age of lightning-fast social media actions, intention and context matter, and not every reshared story needs to spark a feud.

What exactly did Bieber repost, and why did the timing make it fierce?

On July 13, Kerwin Frost dropped an Instagram Story rallying Bieber’s SWAG, declaring, “This is the only album that matters right now. This album is way better than the Clipse.” He followed up with a low-key roast: “Clipse is for bitter grown men who collect Kaws dolls and shop at Kith and Union.” Bieber reshared it but swiftly deleted it once the Stone Cold Clapback took off. Frost later added a playful jab, “Birds of a feather crash out together”—fanning the intrigue.

The timing couldn’t be more dramatic: Bieber and Clipse both dropped high-profile albums on the same day, SWAG and Clipse’s long-awaited reunion, Let God Sort ’Em Out. Fans were quick to interpret the repost as competitive shade, with charts and streaming numbers immediately dissected. In one Billboard poll taken July 14, SWAG beat Clipse 40.3% to 0.7%. You don’t need to be a music detective to spot how easily this could escalate or be seen as a calculated dig.

At this point Clipse is keeping it cool—no diss track, no Twitter tirade, just a call for calm. They’ve asked fans to give Justin the benefit of the doubt treating the repost as a social media slip-up more than a personal attack.

Whether this sparks a response or quietly fades; one thing’s clear: in today’s world, a single repost can snowball faster than a beat drop. Music lovers, it’s your turn to choose sides or perhaps to just enjoy both albums without the drama.