Beijing says no to Bieber over past ‘bad behavior’

Canadian singer Justin Bieber

BEIJING: Justin Bieber is not welcome to perform in China because of his “bad behavior,” Beijing authorities have said, after the pop idol angered many Chinese in 2014 by visiting a controversial Japanese war shrine
The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture revealed it is not a “Belieber” when it said the 23-year-old Canadian, who last played in the country in 2013, had a lot of growing up to do if he wanted to return.
The statement came after Chinese fans posted comments on the agency’s website demanding to know when their heartthrob would be allowed to perform in China again.
It is “inappropriate to introduce bad behavior into the performing arts” it said, calling the performer out for his antics and urging him to turn over a new leaf.
“We hope Justin Bieber can improve his words and deeds in the process of growing up and become a singer people really like.”
The singer’s latest song “Despacito” has been streamed over 4.6 billion times since its March release, according to the Universal Music Group.
The Beijing cultural bureau did not specifically mention Bieber’s 2014 visit to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honors millions of mostly Japanese war dead, including convicted World War II war criminals.
“Anyone who knows and then visits the Yasukuni Shrine is annoying,” a user called Qiao Ating wrote on China’s Twitter-like Weibo website on Friday.
Another Weibo post agreed: “It’s good he’s not coming. He is a bad boy.”
Bieber is due to perform in Hong Kong in September as part of his “Purpose Tour.”
Big-name Western acts have in the past been banned from performing in mainland China over political gestures.