Justin Bieber is not welcome to perform in China because of his "bad
behaviour", 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 heart throb would be allowed to
perform in China again.
It is "inappropriate to introduce bad behaviour 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 honours millions of mostly
Japanese war dead, including convicted World War II war criminals.
The shrine is seen across Asia as a symbol of Japan's perceived lack of
penitence for its past imperialist aggression, under which China in
particular suffered heavily.
Shortly after his trip, the singer behind the hit song "Sorry" issued an
apology to scandalised Chinese fans, saying he was "mislead to think
the shrines were only a place of prayer".
But some have never forgiven him.
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