Justin Bieber Sparks Controversy Because of 'Free Gas' Not Selena Gomez

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez only just lately created a crush of controversy over the status of their romantic relationship, with break-up buzz polluting the gossip columns and so-called pundits predicting Jelena's demise. Of course, the couple appears to be as together as ever. However the "Boyfriend" singer recently caused another sort of hullabaloo--and it wasn't because he was getting touchy-feely with a Gomez doppelgänger in a music video.

The Biebs got a big slap on the wrist by the Aboriginal Peoples in Canada when he was quoted as telling Rolling Stone magazine, "I'm actually part Indian. I think Intuit or something? I'm enough percent that in Canada I can get free gas." (They're apparently actually not entitled to the liquid gold.) The comment was obviously a random one from the mouth of Bieber, who probably couldn't care less about filling up his Batmobile for free--his bank account can handle any market increases. He seemed to simply be trying to make the point, albeit incorrectly, that he has legit Indian blood.

But the story doesn't stop there. Now, the Aboriginal group is retracting their spanking of the pop sensation and subbing in nothing but gold stars, saying he "has nothing to apologize for." Talk about a complete 180! Someone got smart, it seems, and decided the Ottawa-based organization could perhaps use Bieber's remarks to their benefit and to generate some good PR. Looks like their strategy could be working.

"Justin Bieber has done us a favor," said The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples' national chief Betty Ann Lavallee, as Celebuzz reports. "These kind of remarks are another example of what [we] struggle with every day... It promotes the misconception that we are somehow getting a free ride. This simply is not the case..." She later confirmed, "We are not angry [at Bieber]... I commend the young man, in a way. He acknowledged his heritage. He opened up."

And while Lavallee would love to have a "role model" like Bieber join in a national discussion to educate people and debunk the myths and the misunderstandings about Aboriginal people, he may already be gassed out on this situation and have had his fill of the politics.