Pop sensation Justin Bieber reportedly turned down a $5 million offer to perform at the recently concluded Republican National Convention, according to TMZ.
$5 million would have been the largest payment the singer ever netted in a single day. TMZ claims that because of this, Bieber seriously considered taking on the offer, since he is Canadian and will not be taking any sides during the election season.
A source within CAA, Bieber’s agency, told TMZ that he was meant to perform for 45 minutes in a venue near Quicken Loans Arena where the convention was held. The $5 million would be bankrolled by the GOP donors, and they would have covered the full production cost as well. To make the offer even sweeter, the money would have been paid up front, even before Justin Bieber arrived for his performance.
The promoter also made assurance that the event would not be political, and that the pop star would not be endorsing Trump or any GOP candidates.
Despite all this, CAA and Justin’s manager Scooter Braun felt that the event would be “100% political” and would seemly endorse the GOP.
Scooter, who is a staunch Hillary Clinton supporter, did not initially pressure Bieber regarding the offer. He even talked to the singer about putting up a Black Lives Matter banner in the venue. When this was shot down by the promoter, who would only accept an All Lives Matter banner, Braun knew it was time to step in.
At that point Scooter told Bieber that he could decide for himself if he wanted to take the offer, but out of principle he would no longer be able to represent the pop star if he chose to go with it.
TMZ’s source also claims that the promoter allegedly promised Braun and Bieber that LeBron James was also attending an event in Cleveland during the RNC. But when Justin Bieber’s team got in touch with LeBron’s people, they denied that the basketball star would be in Cleveland and in turn advised Bieber not to go.
Justin’s band which is composed entirely of African-Americans also did not also want to do the show.
Of course with everyone around him advising him not to do the performance, Justin Bieber chose to turn down the offer. Do you think that Bieber and his team made the right decision? Weigh in on the decision in the comments below!
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