Joe Jonas was once a teenage pop star like Justin Bieber, but he didn’t go down the same destructive path, well, not as destructive. The former Jonas Brother said that he had it easier than the younger Canadian tween heartthrob.

Speaking to Scene magazine for its new issue, the 24-year-old singer admitted that he had an easier route than most people, especially Bieber, who is currently bombarded with one controversy after another.

“I’ve had an easier route than most. The youngsters just turning 20, the Biebers of the world, are under a microscope,” he told the magazine.

“[Bieber] is having a very tough time finding balance. I think we all saw it coming. Your dad is your party animal – that’s going to sum it up pretty quick. There’s an equation for some sort of explosion.”

Jonas was referring to Jeremy, Bieber’s father, who has been seen partying numerous times with his son during night outs. By the way, Bieber, at 20 years old, isn’t legally allowed to drink alcohol in the U.S.

He doesn’t have the same negative image as Bieber, but Jonas didn’t exactly live off as clean as he was projected to the public. He admitted in late 2013 that he had some misadventures in the past, including smoking pot with Miley Cyrus and ex-girlfriend Demi Moore when he was around 17 years old.

And although he and his brothers, Kevin and Nick, famously wore their purity rings back then as a reminder of their abstinence, he admitted he almost lost his virginity to another unnamed Disney star in the back of a car.

Free from his Jonas Brothers band, Jonas has released his solo album “Fastlife.” He is trying to shake off his former image, though, saying he wants to start anew.

“There are always stereotypes when people think of a band, any artist, that they’re going to sound like a certain thing. [I hope that] when I hit the reset button and release new music, fresh ears will listen open-minded and not judge.”