Justin Bieber apologises again for more racist comments

Justin Bieber has apologised again after claims he used the n-word and joked about joining the Ku Klux Klan.

He said he needed to "take responsibility" for his mistakes and "not let them linger".

The 20-year-old then posted Bible verses on Instagram, which apparently ask for forgiveness.

Earlier this week he said sorry for another film in which he made a racist joke that he called a "childish and inexcusable mistake".

His apology comes after The Sun published a clip where he changed the words of his hit One Less Lonely Girl to include the n-word.

Speaking to the British newspaper from Mexico, Bieber said that facing up to the mistakes of his past was one of the hardest things he had ever had to deal with.

He said he did not want his fans to think he was condoning racism.

"I just hope that the next 14-year-old kid who doesn't understand the power of these words does not make the same mistakes I made years ago," he said.

"At the end of the day I just need to step up and own what I did. Once again, I am sorry for all those I have let down and offended."

The Bible verses he posted on Instagram included 1 John 1:7, which reads: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

The most recent 24-second clip reportedly showed Bieber giggling several times as he changes the words of the song One Less Lonely Girl, which he co-wrote with Usher.

He also referred to joining the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group based mainly in the US.

It's claimed that the sound of girls laughing can be heard during the video, which is said to have been filmed shortly after the singer was signed to the Raymond Braun Media Group.

Earlier this week Justin Bieber issued a statement apologising for another incident in which he used the n-word while telling a racist joke.

A video of a smiling Bieber making the comments while sitting with friends was published on the Sun on Sunday website at the weekend.

It was originally filmed as part of his Never Say Never documentary in 2011.

The newspaper claimed people around Bieber had known about the first clip for some time and had spent money keeping it out of the public eye.

In the video, Bieber asks: "Why are black people afraid of chainsaws?"

The singer then finished his joke by making the noise of the chainsaw and repeating the phrase "Run n*****" five times.

Someone who cannot be seen on camera says: "Don't even say it. Don't say it."

The recent racism claims come during a difficult year for the singer.

A judge in Florida recently delayed his trial on charges of driving under the influence until July.

The singer also faces charges of resisting arrest and driving with an expired licence.

He is facing a separate assault charge after being accused of hitting a limousine driver on the back of the head.

Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube