Don’t worry, ladies, it’s just makeup!

Pop star Justin Bieber helps Marc Ecko‘s Complex celebrate its birthday this month.  He’s beat up and bloodied – artistically, of course – on the cover of the men’s magazine’s 10th anniversary issue.   In a feature titled, “Second Round KO,” The Biebs is styled as a playboy getting a serious beat down in the boxing ring.

Not so much in real life, though.  His interview with editor Joe LaPuma makes it very clear that while there’s a price to pay for celebrity, it’s #1 or bust for Bieber, and he’s not pulling punches.    Read on for highlights, the flip side cover image and a behind the scenes video from the photoshoot.

On the challenges of dating (Selena Gomez, of course) when you’re that famous:  “There’s no way to hide the relationship completely, because then it would be unfair to us.  It’s like, ‘You take this car, and I’ll take this car, and then we’ll meet up at the spot. Then, you go in this door, I’ll go in this door. We’ll end up crossing ways. You get back in this car. We’ll cross over, do a James Bond. You go through the kitchen. I’ll go through the back area. Then we’ll meet in the dressing room and see each other.’ At that point, it’s not even a relationship. You’re just hiding from everyone. That’s unfair and unhealthy, man.”

On dodging the paparazzi:  “[I]t pisses me off so much when people say, ‘Get over it, Justin. You’re famous. People are going to take your picture. Suck it up, you’re rich…’ It’s like, ‘Yo, I just got off an eight-hour flight. I’m tired and my eyes have bags under them. I’m not trying to take pictures. I’m not going to come to your house, wake you up, and start snapping your picture.”

On his determination to make it to the top:  “There’s no point in doing this if I’m not going to be the best.  I give up a personal life. I give up my friends and family to pursue what I love and to make my fans happy. Why would I give up so much to be just another singer?  When I release something I want it to be the best.  When I release my fragrance, I want it to be the number-one fragrance; I don’t want it to be the ninth-best-selling fragrance. My Christmas album went double-platinum worldwide. Christmas albums don’t do that, and that still wasn’t good enough for me.”

Read the whole interview with photos here.

Photo/Video Source:  Complex

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