Justin Bieber is back. Having by all accounts ripped the roof off a sell out show in Portugal last night, the 19-year-old thanked One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik for supporting him over his paparazzi run-in last week.
At the end of a now legendary week in London, the “All Around the World” singer was filmed in a brutal paparazzi encounter outside his hotel. During the expletive-filled face off that followed, Bieber was called obscenities and he returned in kind.
It capped a less then stellar seven days during which the pop prince was asked to leave a nightclub, a disputed delay on the opening night of his four night run at London’s 02 Arena, before collapsing being hospitalized three days later.
Although Bieber was widely pilloried in the UK tabloids during his brief visit, a number of stars lent their support him. Notably Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who recently compared the press treatment of Justin and other young stars to cyber-bullying.
One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik also tweeted the Canadian superstar in a show of solidarity over his treatment by notorious British paps.
“Although I don’t know him personally, I do wish the press would take it easy on @JustinBieber,” Louis said at the weekend. “I really do empathize with him, I don’t see anything out of character I’m comparison to any other teenagers I know.”
Zayn Malik added: “@Louis_Tomlinson what a dude man : D ha got your back bro!! @JustinBieber.”
The bandmates received a late reply from Bieber when he wrote:
“@zaynmalik @Louis_Tomlinson thanks fellas. all good over here. much appreciated.”
On another positive note, a delighted Bieber celebrated his sold out Portugal concert with a euphoric tweet that said:
“PORTUGAL was RIGHT TONIGHT!!#SOLDOUT #BELIEVEtour.”
It’s likely the teen idol was directly addressing media stories that suggested the cancellation of his second show at Pavilhao Atlantico was due to “poor ticket sales.”
Meanwhile, manager Scott ‘Scooter’ Braun explained the facts behind the pulled show to Gossip Cop.
Braun clarified that the second Portugal show was cancelled due to “logistical problems with the unions,” and “issues with load out” — which means the time it takes to break down the equipment and rigging from a show.
And the 31-year-old New Yorker didn’t stop there. Slamming British newspaper reports that claimed Bieber’s “eventful week in London” was the reason for the cancelled show, the manager succinctly said:
“The British tabloids are full of s**t.”
What with will i am, Ne-Yo and a host of other stars, the formidable Smiths and Braun declaring their colors for Team Bieber, there’s really only one direction now for the singer — and that’s up.
Do you think Justin Bieber was treated unfairly in the UK, and are the British press worse than other countries’?