Justin Bieber has claimed he is retiring.

In an announcement that no doubt caused rivers of teenage girls’ tears across the world, the 19-year-old star has revealed he is taking a step back from the music industry when his new album, Journals, is released next week, and it could be permanent.

The Heartbreaker hitmaker told radio station Power 106 in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday: ‘After the new album, I’m actually retiring man. I’m retiring.’

However while the star seemed somewhat sure at first, following their reaction, he backtracked slightly suggesting he has not quite made up his mind: ‘I want to grow as an artist and I’m taking a step out, I want my music to mature.’

But before Beliebers everywhere despair, a source close to Justin told TMZ the 19-year-old was just joking and has no plans to permanently hang up his microphone.

The star is currently preparing to testify in a case bought against him by photographer, Jeffery Binion, who claims that one of the hitmaker’s bodyguards choked him and stole his camera equipment in June.

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