How Your Spike Lee-Justin Bieber Moments Happen

We've spent a day wondering why Spike Lee ended up at the premiere of Justin Bieber's Never Say Never, walking the red carpet and dropping off gifts for the kid's manager. With Bieber blanketing even the adult-centric media this week (after Stewart and Letterman, can the kid ever do a Kids' Choice Awards again?), we figured Spike just had Biebermania—was feeling a bit Bieberish. Or maybe the young child Lee walked the carpet with wanted to see the teen singer!

Not so, says the film's publicist at Paramount. "A lot of people showed up to support L.A. Reid," she told the Observer, speaking of the Island Def Jam music mogul who appears in the film, calling Bieber "the Macaulay Culkin of music." L.A. stands to benefit from Justin's ascendancy, and has a vested interest in making sure some adults seem to enjoy Bieber as the lad crosses into adult territory.

"That's more the reason Spike Lee was there, was supporting L.A.—and Justin, through that." She noted that Justin was too focused on promoting his current documentary to even consider a future collaboration with Lee. (Lee's production company, 40 Acres and a Mule, was unavailable for comment.) Maybe down the road!

ddaddario@observer.com :: @DPD_