Justin Bieber May ‘Adopt’ Baby Lion As PETA Protests: Johnny Depp Reacts To Bieber Comparison On ‘Ellen’ [Video]

Justin Bieber has a new relationship, and it’s a serious one. The “Baby” singer is in love with a little lion cub, according to the New York Daily News.

The rare white lion and the Biebs met each other prior to his Toronto concert on Wednesday night. Millionaire entrepreneur and animal lover Alex Haditaghi, who owns the little animal, revealed that Justin and the cat are mutually enamored.

“I was amazed how great he was with animals — how caring he was,” praised Haditaghi.

The 38-year-old business genius has plans to create a “1,000 to 2,000 acre” animal sanctuary before 2017. He envisions that the sanctuary will be located in Canada or the United States and feels that getting Justin involved could provide him with the perfect spokesperson.

As to just how far the 22-year-old singer might take his relationship with the lion? Just as at the start of any new relationship, the two are working it out, in this case with the entrepreneur matchmaker’s help.

“We still haven’t figured out if it’s an adoption or sponsorship,” clarified Haditaghi.

The price tag on a white lion usually is $50,000, but Haditaghi emphasized that the lion would reside in his dream sanctuary, potentially Florida, Arizona, or Canada. The arrangement that he wants would require Bieber to talk with his Beliebers about preserving wildlife and even tour with his new animal friend, currently named Alex.

However, the Biebs prefers the name Simba.

But what PETA would prefer is that the singer get the message about the best way to befriend tigers, lions, and bears.

PETA reacted previously when Justin shared Instagram photos in which he was petting a Bengal tiger brought in to be a prop for his dad’s engagement party.

Haditaghi admitted he knows about the PETA protest but now says he has changed his attitude.

“If someone had told me I would have a kid like Justin two weeks ago — I would have killed myself. Today I’m a big fan of his.”

As for PETA, the organization is asking the singer to say “sorry,” according to Billboard.

The photos that revealed Bieber’s new relationship with Alex the Lion were posted by the white lion cub’s owner Haditaghi, who praised the singer in the captions.

“Alex is one of JB’s biggest fans!…He is truly a class act and awesome guy!…Somebody else is also in love with my baby! Working towards building Canada’s biggest animal sanctuary! @alexhearmeroar #justin #justinbieber #bieberfever #bieber #toronto #babylion #whitelion #mynameisAlex #kitty”

But PETA disagrees with the praise for the singer.

“This is cruelty, not conservation, and it’s time for @justinbieber to say ‘Sorry’ for endorsing the sleazy exotic-animals trade,” tweeted the group.

Moreover, PETA previously slammed Justin for posing with that Bengal tiger on a chain at the party. Devoted to animal welfare, the organization described the tiger as an abused animal who had been borrowed from a zoo whose owner faces charges for cruelty.

This isn’t the first time that Bieber has shown a fondness for exotic animals. He had a pet monkey, Mally, that caused trouble when he did not have the necessary papers when he was touring.

One celebrity who might sympathize when it comes to taking animals on tour is Johnny Depp, who with his wife, Amber Heard, recently apologized for neglecting to declare their two Yorkshire terriers correctly when they entered Australia in 2015, reported CNN.

But encountering problems with pets isn’t the only similarity between the 22-year-old singer and the 52-year-old actor, and when Johnny appeared on Friday’s episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Ellen displayed a photo of a young Depp, comparing the picture to a youthful Bieber, noted EW.

Watch the video to see Johnny react.

“You looked so much like Justin Bieber when you started out,” DeGeneres teased Depp.

His reaction was shock.

“Wow,” exclaimed Johnny. “He just looks like he might be a little cleaner than me…. Spiritually, I mean.”

Ellen quickly corrected Depp.

“No, he’s not,” DeGeneres reassured him.

[Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images]