One Direction Speaks Out on Justin Bieber Showdown, Says It’s No Big Deal
When two of pop's biggest acts face off on the charts, it's easy to assume there's conflict behind the scenes. However, for One Direction and Justin Bieber, who both have major album releases set on the same date next month, the band is quick to assure the public that there is no bad blood brewing under the surface.
In an interview with Coup de Main magazine, Niall Horan and Harry Styles talked about the group's supposed feud with Bieber, and the ensuing conflict between the impassioned fans of both parties.
"There's no need for a fight if they are fighting," Horan said. "We just happened to be releasing our albums on the same day. It's happened to us before, like our first couple of albums were released on the same day as Rihanna."
He added, "I think the press have just made a big of a deal out of it because it's us and Justin Bieber. It's fine. You know you're gonna be up against someone in the charts, it just happens that we have fallen on the same day."
Styles added that One Direction didn't set off to launch the "Made in the A.M." album at the same time as Bieber's upcoming album.
"I don't think anyone makes a record with competing with someone else in mind. I think then you don't make it for the right reasons," he explained. "I think we made the record, we're very, very happy with it, we're very proud of it and now we're putting it out, and it happens to be on the same day as someone else, and that's it."
He said, "It's not a win/lose thing. It's, we hope that our fans like it, and if it does well that would be amazing, but that's not ultimately what it's about."
The pair set the record straight after fellow musician Bieber hinted that the band chose the same release date as him, according to a previous report from Latin Post.
Although Bieber called it a "friendly competition" during the interview with radio show Smash! The Edge, he also said, "I think it was strategy on their part, because my release date was first."
Both of the albums are set to be major hits for the artists as it is Bieber's first album in three years and One Direction's last before their much-publicized hiatus. While there are a lot of expectations for the boys during and after their break, they are looking forward to some downtime after years of being on the road.
"I mean, we'll be taking a break so please don't expect too much," Styles quipped. "I think we're all gonna take some time off and spend some time with friends and family, and just hang out for a little while, which is going to be a lot of fun."
One Direction's "Made in the A.M.' and Bieber's 'Purpose' are slated to be released on Nov. 13.
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