Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has left Instagram after his fans abused his new girlfriend.

Bieber had threatened to abandon the social media site if people did not stop posting "mean" comments about 17-year-old Sofia Richie who is the daughter of singer Lionel Richie.

Bieber stated: "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."

The comments from fans were made after Bieber and Richie posted several images including some taken in the back of a car while they were in Japan on his world tour.

Bieber's warning to fans led to a spat with his former girlfriend Selena Gomez who told him to stop putting up images of Richie if he didn't want to provoke a backlash.

She wrote: "If you can't handle the hate then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol - it should be special between you two only.

"Don't be mad at your fans. They love you and supported you before any one ever did."

The pair then exchanged various insulting messages with Gomez suggesting Bieber cheated on her while the Canadian hinted that she used him to become famous.

The entire episode seems to have resulted in Bieber taking down his Instagram account.

So fans will just have to follow him on Twitter and Facebook.