Did Demi Lovato Diss Justin Bieber During 'The X Factor'?

During a taping for the "X Factor," Demi Lovato made a series of comments that many perceived were intended for Justin Bieber and his music. There has been speculation before that Lovato harbors certain animosity towards Bieber because of her friendship with Selena Gomez, who used to date Bieber.

In a recent "X Factor" audition, the program in which the young singer acts as a judge, a smug 22-year-old kid appeared to try to make his best impression with the panel, but Demi soon explained to the contestant that it was not his time to make it in the music world because, according to her, the music scene already has its share of rude artists. "We don't need another little punk running the streets," Lovato said.

Many people took the comment to be a direct hint at Justin Bieber, who has been acting up in recent months and has starred in different kinds of incidents that seem to have tarnished the clean cut image with which the youngster began his carreer.

To others, the comment did not prove Demi's so called dislike for Bieber, but what the star did next was seen as an all out attack on the Biebs, according to some of his fans, who have taken to the Internet to defend the Canadian performer.

During another "X Factor" audition, a girl gave the judge's panel a pleasant surprise with her rendition of Bieber's song "As Long As You Love Me." The performance left the crowd speechless and Demi was equally impressed. When it was Lovato's turn to comment on the young girl's singing, the star said, "Well, finally someone can sing the song the way it was meant to be sung."

After mounting pressure from Justin's fans on Twitter, Lovato released a series of tweets in which she claimed she didn't mean to diss the singer and that her comments were not intended towards him. "Btw - no shade thrown at Justin. So many people audition with his songs.. Finally someone sang it the way it was meant to be sung," she began. "Meaning, finally someone sang it the way JUSTIN sang it." She added, "Ain't got nothin' but love for @justinbieber and his beliebers."

Did the star decidee to cut back on her Bieber bashing before mounting backlash continued or was she sincere in her explanation about the incident? What do you think?