Justin Bieber has plenty of critics. In fact, his cup runneth over. But, he does have a supportive friend in Carly Rae Jepsen.

Speaking to Billboard, Jepsen defended the 19-year-old over the controversies that continue to engulf her fellow Canadian.

Admitting that working on the follow up to her 2012 smash hit album Kiss has meant she isn’t tracking every breathless report on Bieber’s struggles, the 27-year-old songstress was, however, clear on which side of the public opinion divide she stands.

“I actually am so out of the loop on any of that, to be honest,” Jepsen said. “People are constantly, like, ‘Is Justin OK?’ I’ve not really noticed any of that.”

The “Call Me Maybe” star added:

“I feel like Justin’s a guy who’s working hard every day, and I think the media can sometimes be a little brutal with stuff and over-exaggerate things.”

Jepsen may well know of what she speaks. She was signed as an artist to Scooter Braun’s record label — School Boy Records — last year, after Bieber (also managed by Braun) recommended her.

Since then the “Boyfriend” singer has continued to actively promote Jepsen on his social media accounts, appeared in an alternative video for “Call Me Maybe” — one of the fastest and biggest selling singles of 2012 — and has a stake in her deal.