Usher Defends Justin Bieber: 'He'll Continue To Mature... I'm Hoping For The Best'

Not even a reckless driving incident can shake Usher's confidence in his protégé, Justin Bieber.

Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show "Ellen," the R&B singer said he is hopeful that with time his 19-year-old mentee will "continue to just mature."

Usher cited the Biebs' lack of privacy as one of the reasons the young star's transition into adulthood has appeared so to be so rocky.

"In this day’s age of social media, there is no privacy and that kind of trial and elimination period is kind of done in front of a camera. ... Many other celebrities are products of it and some come out bad and some come out good,” he told Ellen. "I am hoping for the best. I don't look at it as a negative though. I look at it as a teenager. A teenager having to live his life in front of a camera. Imagine if you had to do that as a teenager."

Usher remains in close contact with Bieber, telling Ellen the two "talk as much as possible."

The "Beauty and the Beat" singer has faced a growing list of personal issues including a recent investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs' Department for reckless driving, reports Reuters.

The pop star received complaints from residents of his Calabasas, Calif., neighborhood for speeding through the community in his Ferrari. Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said the singer was seen driving his sports car around 8 p.m. at Freeway speeds in a 25 mph zone, reports TIME.com

"Two witnesses called us and claimed he was driving a white Ferrari at high speed," Whitmore said. The witnesses included NFL football player Keyshawn Johnson, who was playing outside with his daughter when Bieber sped by.

“His security detail said he declined to talk to us based on the advice of counsel,” Whitmore added. The investigation will be turned over to prosecutors in the next few weeks who will then determine if the Biebs will be charged with reckless driving.

This is the second incidence Bieber has faced in the past couple months. In March a neighbor accused him of threatening and spitting on him. Bieber is facing a possible battery charge in that incident.