After an interview was posted online with Rob Van Winkle saying that like him in his early days, Justin Bieber’s time in the spotlight will soon come to an end, the former pop star is coming forward to clear up his statements. Here’s what he had to say:

I think the whole story is that Vanilla Ice is badmouthing Justin Bieber. That’s just not true. I’m friends with him and I’ve hung out with him. I know his parents, they’re very nice. I don’t think he’s going to be forgotten. I don’t think he’s going to be forgotten at all. In fact, I think he’ll be remembered forever. I wish him all the best. I don’t know how it all got so twisted around.

I think he’s talented. What you guys might have picked up on is that I was giving him advice — when you’re a child star, it’s hard to figure out your purpose in life. Not just with me, but if you follow other child stars, like Britney Spears, who’s now doing great. There’s a transitional period after such tremendous success that you have to figure out your life. There’s a real life after all this entertainment.

I wasn’t trying to say anything bad about anybody. I never badmouth him at all. It’s been twisted into something bad, and once that’s out there it takes on a life of its own. I don’t have any reason to hate anybody; I believe in good karma and spreading good energy.

Sounds good and all, but read what he originally said after the jump, and maybe you can help Vanilla decide how he really feels.

HuffPost: I have to ask you, what are your thoughts on Justin Bieber. I have to ask you.

Vanilla Ice: Justin Bieber is, I mean, you know what, my kids love him. He’s doing his thing. You gotta give him credit. He’s got where he came from and everything, but he does have talent.

HuffPost: I mean, that’s what I thought when we were talking is that, you know, he’s built up his own career.

Vanilla Ice: But he is for the kids right now, and he’s going to go through a phase that he’s going to have to — I mean, I did Ice Ice Baby when I was 16. So I can kind of relate a little bit.

HuffPost: You were 16 years old?

Vanilla Ice: 16 when I wrote “Ice Ice Baby.” Sold over a hundred million records. And I had a weekend that lasted about three years, and I didn’t know who I was, what’s my purpose in life, when everything, when the snow globe settles, you know it’s all shaken up and things are going right, left, crazy. But when it settles, you’ve got to figure out who you are, what’s your purpose in life, where do you fit in, and all that. You look at Britney Spears she didn’t know either, she had to shave her head, she’s on drugs, she’s freaking out, people don’t know what the hell she’s thinking. That’s because she was doing that transition. Now she’s found herself, she’s found her purpose, she’s figured it out. You know what I mean?

HuffPost: Yeah, totally different. You’re right.

Vanilla Ice: So my prediction about Bieber is that he’s going to go through one of those weekends that lasts a few years because he’s had such success as a child act. Now to make that transition and keep it going because what happens is is his fans are all kids right now, 13, 12 years old, whatever, they grow up, and they’re in the 5th grade now, when they get into the 11th grade, people don’t like the same music that they did in the 5th grade. [Unintelligible] It’s … like, oh my god, I liked that in the 5th grade! Oh yeah, you know, then something else new will come along and he’ll be forgotten and he can try to put all the pieces back together so it’s going to be entertaining to watch.

Tagged as: 15 Minutes Of Fame, Fall From Fame, Justin Bieber, Pop Star, Rob Van Winkle, Vanilla Ice