A Kantian Critique of "Sorry" by Justin Bieber

The article argues that Justin Bieber’s 2015 song “Sorry” fails a Kantian test because its central question treats apology as a means to obtain forgiveness rather than a duty to acknowledge wrongdoing. By framing the apology in terms of “second chances,” “redemption,” and personal loss, the lyrics violate the categorical imperative, which requires respecting the other person as an end in themselves.