Justin Bieber‘s mentor Usher knows that his protege is struggling through some serious accusations of pot smoking, reckless driving, fighting, and delayed concerts, but he blames Justin’s age and the open access to his world for all of his apparent problems.

Usher opened up on Wednesday’s Ellen DeGeneres Show, telling the host the obvious: “[Justin] seems to be, um…young”, explaining further that he thinks “all of us in some way have humble beginnings that pan out to be incredible, and we hope that in his transition, as friends and family who have helped him be who he is, that he’ll continue to just mature.”

Then Usher got down to what he thinks is the root of the issues. “In this day and age of social media, there is no privacy, and that kind of trial and elimination period is kind of done in front of a camera…Many other celebrities are products of it, and some come out bad and some come out good.”

Usher is still holding out for hope that everything will turn out OK for JB. “I am hoping for the best. I don’t look at it all as a negative, though. I look at it as a teenager, a teenager having to live his life in front of a camera.”

Usher is doing what he can to keep his 19-year-old pal in check. “We talk as much as possible,” Usher said. “I mean, me and [Justin’s manager] Scooter [Braun], we stay in contact. Obviously when I can be of help I do so—reach out and stay connected.”

Watch part of Usher’s interview on the Ellen DeGeneres show in the video clip below: