Justin Bieber has vowed to no longer take pictures with fans, claiming he feels “like a zoo animal” and wants to keep his “sanity.”
“If you happen to see me out somewhere know that I’m not gonna take a picture I’m done taking pictures,” Bieber wrote on Instagram Tuesday. “It has gotten to the point that people won’t even say hi to me or recognize me as a human, I feel like a zoo animal, and I wanna be able to keep my sanity. I realize people will be disappointed but I don’t owe anybody a picture.”
The singer also stated that just because fans bought his album doesn’t mean that he owes them a picture.
“And people who say ‘but i bought ur album’ know that you got my album and you got what you paid for AN ALBUM!” he added. “It doesn’t say in fine print whenever you see me you also get a photo.”
A representative from Lucky Strike Boston told TheWrap that the photo ban was sparked by an incident at their venue when a family approached Bieber (who was in town to play at the TD Garden) and demanded that he take a photo with them as he owed them for buying his album.
Until that incident, by staff accounts Bieber was a great guest, but obviously just wanted to have some down time and not be disturbed, the statement explained.
“Lucky Strike management escorted them to a private area, and report that Justin and company were pleasant and gracious, making small talk about his concerts and how Justin had filmed his first video at a Lucky Strike venue in Los Angeles,” read the statement. “A family had apparently spotted him walk into the venue, and followed him in shortly after. They immediately began trying to get to Justin, acting like they were looking for the bathroom and managed to reach him to for a photo, which Bieber’s security denied. Lucky Strike placed extra personnel around the area to ensure that he wouldn’t be bothered again, but the family remained persistent. When Bieber and co. left the venue, the father was ready and waiting outside with a camera, proceeding to demand photos, implying they were deserved because they had bought Justin’s albums.
Bieber’s pledge for privacy comes just two months after the 22-year-old decided he would cancel meet-and-greets during his Purpose tour, saying they make him feel “drained and unhappy.”
“I enjoy meeting such incredible people but I end up feeling so drained and filled with so much of other people’s spiritual energy that I end up so drained and unhappy,” he had posted on Instagram as well. “Want to make people smile and happy but not at my expense and I always leave feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression .. The pressure of meeting people’s expectations of what I’m supposed to be is so much for me to handle and a lot on my shoulders.”
See Bieber’s Instagram message below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFPj2VRAvn9/