Ellen DeGeneres criticised for ‘tone-deaf’ questions to Justin Bieber about starting a family

Justin Bieber has explained why he and wife Hailey Bieber are holding off having children, despite revealing he wants a “little tribe”.

The 26-year-old opened up about his and Hailey’s plans for a family during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, where he was asked a series of prying questions by the host, who began: “How many kids are you going to have and when?"

In response to the inquiry, Justin revealed that he hopes to have multiple children with his wife of two years, telling DeGeneres: “I'm going to have as many as Hailey is wishing to push out.

“I’d love to have myself a little tribe. But, yeah, it's her body and whatever she wants to do.”

After confirming that Hailey, 24, also wants to have a “few” children, the talk-show host questioned what the couple is “waiting for”.

“What are you all waiting for? You know you love kids. You’re so good with kids. What’s the holdup?” DeGeneres said.

The question prompted the Holy singer to explain that his wife has goals that she wants to accomplish before becoming a mother, and that he is supportive of whatever she wants to do.

“I think the issue - there's not really an issue, but I think Hailey still has some things she wants to accomplish as a woman,” Justin said. “And I think she just wants to - yeah, I think she just is not ready yet, and I think that's okay."

The response elicited approval from DeGeneres who called the explanation “fantastic”.

“You know what? I was hoping that was the answer. I know how much you love kids, and you’re going to be such a great dad, but I think that’s so important,” the host said.

Following the interview, some viewers criticised DeGeneres for the invasive and “tone-deaf” line of questioning while praising Justin for his responses.

“As an older person I want to apologise for the treatment you received on Ellen's show. You held it together and took the high road of maturity. So much respect for you and the fact that you also respect your wife's choices. Great job bro!” one person tweeted at the singer following the appearance.

Another person referenced criticism regarding a recently resurfaced 2008 clip from the show during which DeGeneres pressured Mariah Carey to reveal whether she was pregnant.

They tweeted: “Did she learn nothing from the Mariah Carey debacle?? Badgering guests about fertility isn’t funny or charming - it’s tone-deaf at best, callously cruel at worst.”

Justin and Hailey confirmed they were engaged in July 2018 before marrying in a courthouse ceremony in September of the same year.

The couple later held a larger wedding ceremony in South Carolina on 30 September 2019.

Justin’s explanation for holding off on having children comes after Hailey shared a similar sentiment during an interview with Vogue Italia earlier this year.

“The strange thing is that I've always wanted to have children early, but now that I'm married, I feel less of an urge," she told the outlet, according to Seventeen. "I am an ambitious girl with many projects.

“It will happen, but not now."