Justin Bieber. (Reuters files) Bieber graduates high school

Justin Bieber cut short a pre-taped interview with U.S. radio show Mojo in the Morning on Thursday after the host compared him to Justin Timberlake and quizzed him about a potential romance between his mother and One Direction's Harry Styles.

Thomas Carballo, the host of the show, was in the middle of a phone chat with the pop star when Bieber took offence at his line of questioning - and hung up.

The 10-minute interview got off to a bad start when Carballo told his guest he thought he was Timberlake the first time he heard him.

Bieber said, "That's funny because our voices sound nothing alike... Saying I sound like somebody else is definitely not a compliment."

The singer lightened up when talking about his new song Maria, which was inspired by the woman who falsely claimed Bieber was the father of her baby last year, but he lost his cool when cheeky Carballo got personal and asked if he was worried about his One Direction pal Harry Styles falling for his mum.

The DJ said, "Do you worry about Harry around your mum, since he likes older women?"

Clearly upset Bieber then mumbled something about Carballo's mother and, as the radio presenter explained his mum was dead, the pop star hung up the phone.

A record company representative then tried to convince the DJ that the singer's phone had cut off, explaining, "I can't get him. He's in a really s**tty area." She later revealed Bieber was "upset" with the questions, adding, "He probably won't be calling back."

Styles hit the headlines recently when reports suggested the 18 year old had had an affair with British radio DJ Lucy Horobin last year, after they met at a radio station where the 32 year old worked in Manchester, England.