Justin Bieber has rejected a $5 million offer to perform at a Republican Party event, which he had reportedly been told was “non-political.”
His performance would have been slated for the Republican Party convention in Cleveland.
TMZ reported that Bieber was told the event wouldn’t be politically endorsed, and that his performance would not be an endorsement of Donald Trump or any policies relating to GOP. The offer to perform had initially been sent to his talent agency CAA, and the gig would have entailed a 45-minute performance at a venue close to Quicken Loans Arena, close to the convention.
Reportedly, Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun took issue with the offer as he had recently hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. He held the fundraiser at his L.A. home in August 2015.
The TMZ article stated that, “We’re told Scooter told Justin it was up to him if he wanted to do that show, but he said that he couldn’t continue to represent the singer if he did, out of principle. Scooter felt the GOP was using Bieber as its tool.”
Manager Braun had asked the GOP if they would be able to hang banners in deference to the “Black Lives Matter” movement as part of the convention, but it was denied. The GOP instead asked that the banners read “All Lives Matter.”
The gossip outlet also reported that NBA superstar Lebron James had told Bieber not to go after he decided against it.
Republican candidate Donald Trump is not well-liked by many in the music industry, and has repeatedly ignored demands from artists not to use their music at his rallies. One notable band whose request he has ignored was The Rolling Stones, and he continues to play “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” at the end of his speeches.
According to NME, last May the band released a statement that read, “We have requested Trump cease all use immediately.”
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