The 22-year-old "Love Yourself" hitmaker, who sparked dating rumours with Richie earlier this month, threatened his Instagram followers that he will make his photo-video sharing website account private, if they continue using derogatory language against Richie.
"I'm gonna make my Instagram private if you guys don't stop the hate this is getting out of hand, if you guys are really fans you wouldn't be so mean to people that I like," he wrote.
Bieber shared a series of black and white photos with the 17-year-old model on the micro-blogging site today after which his fans started trolling Richie and even called her 'gross'.
as part of his Purpose World Tour.