Bieber apologizes after late show leaves girls in tears
LONDON (AP) - Justin Bieber apologized Tuesday to his young fans - and their outraged, overtired parents - after they accused him of taking the stage almost two hours late for a concert in London.
The singer insisted he had only been 40 minutes late, and blamed "technical issues."
But, he added in a tweet to his 35 million followers: "There is no excuse for that and I apologize for anyone we upset. However it was great show and I'm proud of that."
Concertgoers said the teenage star appeared onstage at the 02 Arena on Monday at 10:30 p.m., when the start time had been listed as 8:30. Many in the audience, who had been waiting for hours, faced the choice between leaving early or missing the last trains home.
"There were teenage girls crying outside," said financial analyst Louise Cooper, who had taken her 9-year-old daughter to the gig as a birthday present.
"The ladies sitting with us had to leave after 20 minutes and they had spent 70 quid (70 pounds, about $106) each on a ticket, which is really bad.
"It's one thing if your demographic is 50-year-olds, but his demographic is lots of little girls who need to go home and go to bed."
Tracy Wilson, who attended the show with her teenage daughter, said people began booing when Bieber had not appeared by 9:30. She called the lack of explanation "disgusting."
The venue apologized on its Twitter feed "to all the Justin Bieber fans for the lateness of his show tonight."
Critics said the Canadian star, who turned 19 on Friday, risked alienating fans by behaving with the same disregard for timekeeping as more hard-edged rock stars.
John Aizlewood in the Evening Standard newspaper said Bieber had shown contempt for young fans, leaving them "exhausted, disillusioned and probably late for school this morning."
Bieber, who is due to play three more nights at the venue Tuesday through Thursday, has been photographed out on the town several times during his current British tour.
"Since I have been here it hasn't been easy with the press at times but I have loved it," Bieber tweeted.
"I never have any intent to upset or let anyone down. And I'm not okay with things being exaggerated. Once again sorry for anyone upset."
He promised that he would put on a "great show" Tuesday - and it would start on time.
The singer insisted he had only been 40 minutes late, and blamed "technical issues."
But, he added in a tweet to his 35 million followers: "There is no excuse for that and I apologize for anyone we upset. However it was great show and I'm proud of that."
Concertgoers said the teenage star appeared onstage at the 02 Arena on Monday at 10:30 p.m., when the start time had been listed as 8:30. Many in the audience, who had been waiting for hours, faced the choice between leaving early or missing the last trains home.
"There were teenage girls crying outside," said financial analyst Louise Cooper, who had taken her 9-year-old daughter to the gig as a birthday present.
"The ladies sitting with us had to leave after 20 minutes and they had spent 70 quid (70 pounds, about $106) each on a ticket, which is really bad.
"It's one thing if your demographic is 50-year-olds, but his demographic is lots of little girls who need to go home and go to bed."
Tracy Wilson, who attended the show with her teenage daughter, said people began booing when Bieber had not appeared by 9:30. She called the lack of explanation "disgusting."
The venue apologized on its Twitter feed "to all the Justin Bieber fans for the lateness of his show tonight."
Critics said the Canadian star, who turned 19 on Friday, risked alienating fans by behaving with the same disregard for timekeeping as more hard-edged rock stars.
John Aizlewood in the Evening Standard newspaper said Bieber had shown contempt for young fans, leaving them "exhausted, disillusioned and probably late for school this morning."
Bieber, who is due to play three more nights at the venue Tuesday through Thursday, has been photographed out on the town several times during his current British tour.
"Since I have been here it hasn't been easy with the press at times but I have loved it," Bieber tweeted.
"I never have any intent to upset or let anyone down. And I'm not okay with things being exaggerated. Once again sorry for anyone upset."
He promised that he would put on a "great show" Tuesday - and it would start on time.
who cares?? Â Â
He says it was supposed to start at 9:30 but hundreds of tickets said 8:30 and the venue opened up for an 8:30 show and 8:30 was listed as the scheduled start time online and at ticket boxes for almost a year... but, yeah... he was "only" 40 min late to that 9:30 show. His apology isn't even a real apology since he's basically saying, "What's the big deal? It was only 40 min!" Hundreds of Bieber fans can't be wrong...
What's a Bieber?
@What-the-Heck LOL! That was Ozzy's greatest line ever!
This generation's version of the "Rick Roll"...LOL
Egads...he's wearing White before Memorial Day?
I'm not sure why but I am defending him...it's only fair to hear his side. Here is his tweet with explanation, (supplied by my teen daughter). He says he was scheduled 930 and got on at 1010.
https://twitter.com/justinbieber/status/308919372351680513
@dfense Yeah we're gonna take his word via his tweet alright. Of course a teenage girl is gonna supply that.
Hopefully someone snaps him out of his arrogance. Apologies are easy to give but don't undo the degree of grief he caused. I guess that comes with maturity. Maybe his handlers could have played the part of adult if he couldn't pull it off himself.Â
Yeah I figured he'd apoligize, after all, he does know how exactly how teenage girls in tears feels.
14 minutes into his 15....
@newspuppy One can hope.
That's great that he plans to come on time for the other shows but what about the fans that had to leave and missed out? They should either get tickets to his other show(s) or refunded for the show that started late. He might be 19 but Bieber is by no means mature. Time to wake up and take credit for your mistakes and downfalls, it's the adult thing to do.Â
Wants to be George Michael....but isn't even on that level. His fans will find someone else who doesn't show up two hours late.Â
I just cracked up that his audience is "little girls". There ya go Bieber. That should put you in your place.
I saw this kid on SNL a few weeks ago and was not impressed, he sucks. Every generation has their canned pop star and I respect that, but he's an annoying twerp.Â
*Flushes toilet, closes toilet lid, closes bathroom door* ......Oh! I'm sorry! Â What was this article about?
@BigdaddyOmar Oh Im sorry, not only did you read it, you actually commented on it too lol.
@ILoveSeattle I'm guessing your sarcasm detector is defective.
This is pretty standard for concerts and there is rarely an explanation. Â It IS frustrating. Â I actually LOL'd at the comment that his audience is little girls that need to go to bed! Â That's what he looks like too!
It happens often with concerts and I've learned to plan accordingly, and waiting is part of the game too often. Â It could be technical issues, other acts, pre-show activities, and sometimes it's planned that way.
@oledawg You're right, but I think an announcement would have been in order. The article says there was none.
Ward, you need to talk to the Bieber about being late....
@Windowseat He, Whitey, and Lil Twist were probably watching them do some construction over at the  empty lot.
Personally, I DON'T want more acts to take the stage to give some sort of impression of "added value" to the tickets. Â When i'm at a concert for a specific group, I don't want to see the opening act. Â Give me the main act NOW. Â Don't make me wait all that time to listen through someone else's crap I didn't pay to see.
@AdAckbar I hear your pain, man...only about three shows I've ever gone to that (in my opinion) had great opening acts; those were ZZTop in '90 (when Jeff Healy opened); VNV Nation in '11 (when Straftanz opened), and Rammstein '11 (when Combichrist opened)...
...the rest that I paid big money to see (Rush x2 and Pink Floyd)? Â No opening acts! Â 3 to 31/2 hours of great music!
@DMTÂ Oh yeah! Fleetwood Mac and Roger Waters had no opener, just them, and those were great! Not to mention that Yes concert just 2 nights ago with 3 complete albums was fantastic!
As much as I dislike his definition of music and talent and think he is just another spoiled brat who doesn't give two sh!ts about those that keep him in business, none of this would be a problem if parents didn't bring their kids to this kind of crap. A 9 year old at a concert???? Aaaand it wasn't scheduled to start until 8:30pm on a school night. My 9 year old is in bed at 8:30 on a school night. Keep your kids home or spend that money on taking them to a symphony, orchestra, sport event(or get them into sports), theatrical play etc.... To spend $106 on seeing this no-talent brat, is the same as taking that $106 and flushing it down the toilet.
@Robinsnest Seriously! I was 14 before I was allowed to go to my first concert and it had to be on a weekend.
What an egocentric little jag-off!Even though Iâm not a fan of his music (and never will be), the fact that me made his audience who paid a lot of money to come see him wait like they had to was completely inexcusable.He needs to realize that these are the fans that made him what he is today and by pulling crap like that, his little star will fall just as quickly as it was risen.
@The WA Mama Exactly...if you do not appreciate what you have, it will go away; then that will be nobody's fault but your own.
 "And I'm not okay with things being exaggerated..."  Proof right there that he is not truly sorry and this is not a sincere apology.  What a little jerk; probably too busy smoking and partying it up.
Careful justin, don't want to start another cut for bieber trend...hahaha im sorry but teens these days are soooo over dramatic!
When he grabs his junk, he should use more than 2 fingers, even if not necessary. Or, oh wait ... is he just holding up his pants?
@Thunder Great one!  :D
@DMTÂ @Thunder I could NOT help it :)
Crying? Â Really?Â
While I understand everyone has a different taste in music, I really don't get why people like this boy. I've heard better singing from the boy bands/singers back when I was a teen, and one of the bands never acted like spoiled brats and are still putting out some amazing music.
But, to each their own I guess...
...not to mention when he DID start his performance, it was all Justin Bieber music! What was he thinking?
Please ban this doushe from America..............................