Oscar host Billy Crystal says it was "great" working with teen superstar Justin Bieber in a controversial segment for last night's 84th annual Academy Awards.
"Justin Bieber was great," Crystal gushes to the website Hollywood Life. "He’s a really funny guy and has a wonderful sense of humor. Now if I could only have as many Twitter fans as he does!"
Bieber and Crystal appeared in the opening segment of the awards show, which harpooned several of the night's Best Picture nominees. Crystal and Bieber appeared together in a send up of Woody Allen's film "Midnight in Paris." In the segment, Crystal sits on a set of steps in Paris as Bieber drives up in a 1920s vintage car.
"Hey you, come over here," says Bieber through the car window.
When Crystal comes closer and realizes who it is, he asks, "Justin Bieber?"
"Yeah man, what's up," replies Bieber. "I'm here to get you the 18-to-24 demographic."
Soon, it's revealed that there is a second occupant of the car -- Sammy Davis Jr., also played by Crystal, who often impersonated the singer on "Saturday Night Live."
He says, "Is Biebs the young Sinatra or am I nuts?"
The segment has been widely criticize as Crystal appeared in blackface in it, a move that incited ire on Twitter. Later in the evening, comedian Paul Scheer tweeted, "Octavia Spencer's win shows how far we've come since Billy Crystal performed in blackface. #TheOscars."
But Bieber didn't appear put off by the segment. The "Baby" singer, who is delving into acting with a starring role in a project by Mark Wahlberg, tweeted after the show, "A BIG SHOUTOUT to Billy Crystal. Thanks for letting be a part of the show and you killed it tonight. #muchlove."
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