While staring into the soul of the tiger at his father’s engagement party, Justin Bieber had a lightbulb go off above his newly-buzzed head – you and I are one and the same. Realizing that he is nothing more than a caged zoo animal, The Biebs decided to break the bars that bind him by denying the world the privilege of taking his picture. Not too long ago, he claimed his energy was drained from him by profiting off people who paid $2K to meet him. Tuesday, he inexplicably walked around Boston barefoot and declared he will pose no more forever. Echoing Amy Schumer’s similar declaration, Bieber posted a message to Instagram that he’s done with taking pictures and that all he owes us is his music:
Justin Bieber is really, really over taking pictures with fans.
After his barefoot walk around Boston, the 22-year-old singer went on an Instagram rant on Tuesday, continuing to air his frustrations with fans who come up to ask him for photos on the street.
“If you happen to see me out somewhere know that I’m not gonna take a picture. I’m done taking pictures,” the Purpose artist wrote. “It has gotten to the point that people won’t even say hi to me or recognize me as a human. I feel like a zoo animal, and I wanna be able to to keep my sanity.”
“I realize people will be disappointed, but I don’t owe anybody a picture,” he concluded. “And people who say, ‘But I bought ur album,’ know that you got my album and you got what you paid for… AN ALBUM! It doesn’t say in fine print whenever you see me you also get a photo.”
It pains me to say this but Bieber does have a point. The Lucky Strike bowling alley in Boston defended him, saying that he was behaving himself and very low key in a VIP area when a family forced themselves on him demanding pictures because they had bought his albums. If you read this article, it gives some insight into the hysteria surrounding the pursuit of Bieber. And then there are videos like this that make me slightly sympathetic to his plight.
I do think everyone has the right to walk around unmolested by strangers and I imagine having to fulfill some fantasy version of yourself every time you walked outside would be exhausting. But he can spare us the theatrical essays about how he is a tortured soul and therefore cannot give any more of himself. When challenged by a fan on his new edict, Bieber came back even harder about being a “slave to the world”. I guess I wonder two things: 1) Doesn’t the theory of supply and demand work against him here? If he stops the meet and greets, won’t his image become a hot commodity? It’s practically an invitation to paparazzi to take up residence in his hedges. 2) What if the reverse happens and everyone abides by his wishes and the attention all dries up? He will have to proffer up yet another of his famous apologies to win us back.
But, have no fear – if you miss seeing Bieber’s emoting, he is still supplying no end of selfies on Instagram. If you squint, you can see the tiny cross tattoo by his left eye.
(6) Another photo of Justin Bieber spotted out in Boston today. (May 9) pic.twitter.com/sQW0aVVJVs
— JustinBieberCrew.com (@JBCrewdotcom) May 10, 2016
Photo credit: WENN Photos, Instagram and Twitter
There will be a time in his life where he will be wishing someone would ask him for a picture.
LOL sorry but those Boston “park pics” seem so staged. How many paps hang out in parks in Boston?
I met the Obamas and Alex Baldwin in that park. The local Fox News affiliate is directly across the street from that park, The Common. The Statehouse is also across the street and it is bordered by several fancy hotels that cater to celebrities and there have been some interesting pap shots over the years.
But yes, I think the barefoot in the park pictures were staged.
Wow!
You “met” them? How were the conversations?
He climbed a tree too.
To me, the most surprising bit is he went to Lucky Strike.
And played with a squirrel! Hope the squirrel wasn’t disappointed that he wasn’t really “nuts”.
The squirrels in the Common fear nothing. He’s lucky he didn’t lose anything
That place isn’t exactly sketchy, but it’s very populist. Like, I’ve gone there for low key birthday parties for friends. I don’t know what the cool clubs in town are (I spend most of my time in nerdier pursuits) so if he goes somewhere I’ve heard of then it’s…not exactly cool.
Although it pains me to have to agree with Baby Biebs, I do understand his point (to a certain extent). I can’t imagine how annoying it would be to have people literally demanding that you pose for pictures with them, especially if you’re just out with some friends. Everyone deserves privacy.
That said, I find it ridiculous that he would complain about how draining it is to take pics with fans after a concert. Not only did they pay lots of $$$ to do so, but it’s something that they would probably cherish for a long time. To take that away from them just because he can’t be assed / is too precious is pathetic.
Not to mention how he still enjoys all the PERKS of being famous. He has no problem taking pics with OTHER CELEBS though. He seems really ungrateful.
It’s his right to decide who he wants to take a picture with as everyone has that right, too. You might like to take pictures with your family and friends, however, that does not mean you want strangers to invade your privacy and take pictures with or of you without your consent. Nobody would call you ungrateful, would they?
@ Zip
I’m not talking about fans who bother him during dinner or private times. I’m talking about at his concerts. He is no longer taking pics with those that pay EXTRA money to go backstage. That, to me, is ungrateful. If a famous person went backstage I am sure he’d take pics with them though.
I do sympathize with him in this area. And this is not simply about taking pics with fans. It’s about THOSE fans. The ones that see a famous individual as an abstract person. And Bieber has TONS of those. It has to be exhausting, annoying, and frustrating after this long time.
Also, I remember when people were slamming Kylie Jenner because a fan wanted to take a picture as she was walking into some place, and this person wouldn’t stop asking and chasing her, she grabbed Kylie, and Kylie turned around and said “Don’t touch me.” Everyone was saying how rude it was, but I just couldn’t see it. You don’t have a right to touch celebrities. You don’t have a right to slap Beyonce’s butt (that happened); you don’t have a right to grab Tim McGraw’s crotch (that happened); you don’t have a right to grab Justin Timberlake’s butt (that also happened). People just aren’t respecting the sheer humanity and personal space of celebrities.
So – in a way, it’s like being pregnant (bear with me). Strangers feel like they have the RIGHT to ask you nosy questions, and it’s constant. I personally think he should be very gracious to fans, but they also should treat him (and other celebrities) like people and say hello, and ask for a photo (vs just jumping on him or grabbing him).
That photo in the park proves I have no ability to recognize celebs in the wild. He just looks like an odd Emerson student hanging out between classes.
2K$ to meet him… I realize more and more that I’m in the wrong business.
That is so true! It’s much more lucrative than the prospects of the career that I’m getting a degree for.
Where do I sign up?
That hairstyle is so creepy on him.
Ehhh hopefully he’ll flame out and it will be a hot mess of a downward spiral. He’s looking like Shia Lebouf in those barefoot photos, starting to lose it haha.
reminds me of leghorn!
Defending this kid is hard but after seeing some social media pics of him and the glee with which some people treated his obvious discomfort at being photographed and recorded was unsettling.
I work in NYC right in the middle of where Sirius Radio, NBC and Fox are, so I see plenty of celebs. I actually saw him here once and the insanity of the way some of the fans were acting was ridiculous. Honestly, I don’t blame him for this one. It was overwhelming to witness, and I wasn’t even the object of the attention.
He’s got a point. If he does not want to have his picture taken then people should just back off. He does not owe them anything. I think if those famous kids would be treated more normally and respectfully – instead of hoards of kids screaming and crying as soon as they see them or being basically forced to take pics with everyone (because otherwise they’d be called ungrateful and arrogant) – they might have a better chance to not end up as drug addicted fuck-ups. Sure, nobody forces them to do certain things but I believe that this crazy environment plays a huge role.
I don’t blame him at all, he doesn’t owe anyone a picture!
I do think he is a drug user and I think he’s going to spiral downwards. The barefoot pictures scream high as a kite to me. He seems surrounded by the wrong kinds of people.
It’s an age old problem, child stars cannot seem to become functioning adults.
proof that people are way too obsessed with celebrities IMO and I can’t believe its taking celebs this long to stand up for the fact that they’re human beings and he’s right, you didn’t buy his freaking soul, you bought his album. your obsession with him and your sense of entitlement to refuse to let him be a normal person when he’s not singing or promoting his career is your problem as a fan, not his. (I can’t believe I’m backing Bieber right now, but I am)
It makes my skin crawl when people freak out, it always has. I’m not one to do it, though I adore a good handful of actors and musicians myself. If I ever saw a celebrity I liked in real life, I’d probably freak out inside but would never, ever approach a celebrity, it’s just not me. I’d feel foolish because I know they’re just people.
I’ve been a Bieber detractor from way back but I have to say he won me over in his three Carpool Karaoke guest appearances with James Corden. You can see them on youtube. In those vids he is relaxed, charming and respectful, and dare I say it? very cute!
I can see his appeal now, even though I don’t excuse all the bad behavior. He lives a weird life controlled by handlers in the industry. Yes, there are so many perks but there is a dark side to it, as well.
I know he is troubled and spoiled, but there is a cool side to him, as well. I’m not sure what was going on in Boston but I hope he pulls it together. I’m sure he has his days where he is overwhelmed and sick of it all – especially having to deal with idiots like that family in the bowling alley. His perks in life are bigger, but his stress and troubles are bigger, too.
I think that celebrities have the right, like anyone else, to set boundaries. That said, I respect more the ones who exhibit these boundaries all the way around, i.e., they don’t overuse social media and exposure for their own exploitive purposes, then get mad when fans feel familiar with them. At that point, they should realize, they too are part of the problem, they’ve helped create this.
Compare Bieber to Bruce Springsteen. He has been happily meeting fans, giving autographs and taking picture with them when he’s out and about forever. And since he doesn’t act like a jerk, people tend to treat him well and not abuse this. There are thousands of picture of him with fans on the internet and he’s smiling in all of them. Younger entertainers should take lessons.
I await the day the is world is over Little Biebs, having his bodyguards carry him, stupid tantrums, prancing naked on his hotel balcony when he knew the paps were there, & general a**holey behavior. Maybe someday he’ll beg to have any remaining fans want pics?
Honestly, just leave the kid alone. He is sick of fame and just want to feel normal.