Hanson disses Justin Bieber's music: "Chlamydia of the ear, it sucks"

Hanson has had a distinguished career since the days of "MMMBop," so this is one burn that should leave a mark

By Matthew Rozsa

Staff Writer

Published June 20, 2017 11:16AM (EDT)

Justin Bieber   (Getty/Kevin Winter)
Justin Bieber (Getty/Kevin Winter)

During an interview with an Australian radio station, Zac Hanson of the '90s mini-rock group Hanson, made it clear that he equates Justin Bieber's music with rather unpleasant clinical diagnoses, according to a report by Entertainment Weekly.

"I prefer not to get any venereal diseases, so whenever Justin Bieber gets sort of near me or near my ears . . . it’s just ear infections, they’re terrible," Zac Hanson proclaimed.

Lest any listeners have a doubt as to the meaning of the medical metaphor, brother and bandmate Isaac Hanson added that Bieber's musical work is "chlamydia of the ear, it sucks."

It's, yes, harsh. Yet, considering the source, it's more than just a sick burn laid on the annoyingly ubiquitous Bieber. After all, the Hanson brothers are more than just  your average trolls spilling hateraide. Rather, they're members of one the most respected groups ever to be labeled a "boy band" slinging "teen music"(incorrectly in this case).

In the 20 years since Hanson's sublime hit, "MMMBop," band has gone on to make some truly outstanding music in (online music critic Todd in the Shadows does a great deconstruction of their career here). It is also worth noting that, whereas Bieber has had more than his fair share of scandals since achieving super-stardom, Hanson has had maintained a squeaky clean reputation in the aftermath of their success.

Bieber, of course, may complain that they are on their soapbox looking down, waving their flag like this is a battle ground. If so, will the chart topping millennial have any harsh words of rebuttal for his musical antecedents?


By Matthew Rozsa

Matthew Rozsa is a staff writer at Salon. He received a Master's Degree in History from Rutgers-Newark in 2012 and was awarded a science journalism fellowship from the Metcalf Institute in 2022.

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Entertainment Hanson Justin Bieber Music Partner Video Teen Music Zac Hanson