Justin Bieber’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week
The worst birthday ever. The outraged fans. The gas mask. The collapse. The fight. Recapping the pop star’s London trip from hell.
North America, meet your new goodwill ambassador.
Since arriving in London earlier this week for sold-out tour dates at the city’s monstrous O2 Arena, Justin Bieber has spread joy on behalf of our proud country throughout England’s fair city. He whined about how horrible his birthday was. He showed up almost two hours late for a concert. He walked around town with a gas mask. And on Friday, he told a photographer that he is going to “fucking beat the fuck out of you.”
Justin Bieber performs at 02 Arena on March 5, 2013 in London, England. (Chiaki Nozu/Getty)
For America’s formerly moppet-haired, adorable tween pop star, it’s been quite the eye-opening week.
The trouble began with Bieber’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad 19th birthday, which he had planned Sunday night at London’s Cirque du Soir nightclub. The bash was shut down early when bouncers reportedly caught wind that the Bieber ball was admitting guests under the age of 18—word is that Will Smith’s 14-year-old son, Jaden, was among them—and that the singer’s entourage got into an altercation with security over the issue, forcing everyone to leave.
Exercising his "It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want To" prerogative, Bieber took to Instagram to put on blast the “dummies” who contributed to the International Tragedy that was his “worst birthday” ever. “I love how the club wanted to give the press another reason why we didn’t stay at their weak ass club so they wouldn’t look bad for me walking in and right back out," Bieber wrote. "I said my ‘worst bday’ but that was due to dummies pushing over my fans and being overly aggressive. Btw it wasn’t the worst bday cuz all my friends from back home flew in I was just mad in the moment.”
But maybe he still found a way to party hard. The next night, throngs of fans and their parents flooded the O2 for the first of his four shows, arriving promptly for the 8:30 p.m. start time so as to not miss a pop or lock from the performer’s set. And then they waited. And waited. And waited. Bieber didn’t hit the stage until roughly 10:15, nearly two hours later, leaving his young fans and the grown-ups they dragged along to fret over the late hour—it was a school night!—if they’d have a way back to their homes—the Tube closes early!—and if they’d get their money’s worth—would Bieber shorten his set?
Thankfully, the O2 ensured that the Tube would be running when the show finished. Bieber said nothing on stage that night but hit Twitter with a flurry of excuses when the concert ended, claiming he was only 40 minutes late for the show and passing the buck to technical issues as the cause for delay. “I never have any intent to upset or let anyone down,” he tweeted graciously. But then he added, “I’m not okay with things being exaggerated.”
Things took a bizarre turn as the week chugged along. He flitted around London wearing a ludicrous gas mask over his face…to disguise himself from paparazzi? Blend in? It’s hard to say, as the mask was about as inconspicuous as the leather Hammer pants and neon orange shoes he complemented it with.
Watch Justin Bieber get booed
Then came the odd Twitter rant, in which he insisted that he is a “good person” whom only God can judge. “Can’t phase me,” he tweeted. “I’m a good person. I know that. You can’t tell me different. We know the truth."
All that ranting was followed by a “collapse” backstage at Thursday night’s show, which, was, as these medical scares are, followed by the posting of a shirtless picture on Instagram. “Getting better listening to Janice Joplin,” he captioned the racy shot. (It’s spelled “Janis,” Biebs.)
And then there’s the crème de la crème: the expletive-ridden tirade. On Friday, he shoved a paparazzo on the way into his SUV. The paparazzo cried assault and began calling Bieber names. Bieber flings open the door of the SUV and starts screaming like a banshee: “What the fuck’d you say?...I’ll fucking beat the fuck out of you.” Briefly forgetting he weighs what one could estimate at a hefty 110 pounds, he then began swinging at the photographer before being corralled back into the car by his bodyguard.
And with that, one hopes, Bieber was on his way to Heathrow, to leave London to ruminate on all the good cheer he sprinkled through its streets this past week. Next up on the tour is Paris. Bonjour. Beware.
Cheat Sheet
Entertainment
-
HEAVENS!
‘Downton’ Castle Raking in the Dough
Don't forget your souvenirs!More
-
LATINO PRIDE
Sheen Gets In Touch With His Roots
Going by his real name, Carlos Estevez, in new movie.More
-
COLD TURKEY
A&E’s ‘Intervention’ Canceled
After 8 years and 243 interventions. More
-
OH GOD
Amanda Bynes Arrested in NYC
Allegedly threw a bong out a 36th-story window.More
-
BOX OFFICE
‘Fast & Furious’ and ‘Hangover’ Face Off
‘Hangover’ kicks off to disappointing start.More
Lately
TODAY'S STORIES
Homage to James Turrell’s Light
Jean Trinh explores LACMA’s retrospective on James Turrell’s career and talks to the artist about light-play.
Direct to Video
8 Best Music Videos of the Week
The American Dream
Cannes Standout ‘The Immigrant’
Jimmy Fallon's 'Game of Desks'
First it was 'The Jersey Floor'. Then there was 'Downton Sixbey'. Check out this clip from his epic new parody, in case you missed it Friday night.
Elsewhere
Fashion Beast
-
Nine Best Fashion Instagrams
Lena Dunham tries a graduation gown, Doutzen Kroes does some housekeeping, and Kim... More
-
Amanda Bynes Wigs Out
The troubled child star donned a platinum blonde wig while facing drug charges in court... More
-
Jenna Lyons Will Not Wear Google Glass; UN Backs Woman Who Sued Prada Japan for Sexual Discrimination
and there's been another Cannes jewelry heist. More
Elsewhere
The Royalist
-
William: Bayern Munich Will Win Euro Soccer League
Willima is president of the British FA and was speaking at a soccer event in London today More
-
King Edward VIII's Phone Was Bugged By His Own Government
Post Office ordered to monitor King's calls More
-
Queen to Visit London Terror Site
The Queen is to go ahead with a long-planned visit to Woolwich Barracks next week More













Comments