Justin Bieber Turns Down $5 Million Offer to Perform at RNC Concert
Justin Bieber says no to Donald Trump.
According to TMZ, the Biebs rejected a whopping $5 million offer to perform at a Republican event during the party’s recent convention in Cleveland.
Sources claim that LeBron James and Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun were instrumental in the decision. James implored Bieber not to take the gig while Braun threatened to quit if he accepted the proposition.
CAA, the agency that represents Bieber, received the offer. It was to perform for 45 minutes at a venue near Quicken Loans Arena, where the RNC was taking place. While promoters claimed it was “not political,” the $5 million payday was reportedly bankrolled by GOP donors.
The major offer would have represented the largest single payday in Bieber’s career and it would have also likely been one of the largest any artist has ever received. JB reportedly considered it, at least in part due to his Canadian background, making him neutral in the political race in the States.
The singer’s manager, however, is not neutral. Braun is a major Hillary Clinton supporter and fundraiser. Despite any guarantees from promoters, Braun and CAA felt that the move was “100 percent political,” according to the report.
Braun reportedly first suggested Bieber perform with “Black Lives Matter” banners at the concert. Promoters then rejected the idea, approving only “All Lives Matter” signs. Promoters also barred Bieber from saying anything negative about Trump or his party. As a result, Braun said he would no longer represent Bieber if he took the offer.
While promoters told Scooter that LeBron James would be at an event in Cleveland that week to welcome the politicians without taking a political stand himself, James reportedly denied the notion and urged Bieber to reject the offer as well.
Bieber’s band also likely had an influence on the decision. According to the report, every member of the band is black and every member was against the performance.
Bieber eventually rejected the offer.