Justin Bieber was scheduled to perform in Sydney on April 26 but Sydney authorities had decided to step in and canceled the concert right there and then due to safety reasons.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that about 4000 to 5000 Bieber fans traveled and camped at Circular Quay in Sydney Harbour just to see the teen pop sensation perform. Hours before the scheduled performance, fans have been pushing more and more forward until those who are in front got squeezed in by those behind them and the stage in front of them. The fan surge began during the wee hours of the morning – around 2 AM – when rumors broke out of a sighting of the young performer. The surge went on for several hours with several of the fans, about hundreds of them, were crushed because of the stampede. About ten fans fainted and were attended by the paramedics who were nearby the venue and a couple of the fans were rushed to the nearest hospital due to more serious physical injuries.
The police eventually canceled the concert and told everyone to go home. This resulted to major disappointment and frustration from both the fans and their parents. One parent even accused Bieber’s camp of using the fans for a publicity stunt – to clearly demonstrate how far would the Bieber fans go and do just to watch him perform. It is an utter waste of money and time, and their kids’ safety are at stake. Another teen fan, 13-year old Sophie Kelly who won a promotion to meet and greet Bieber even said the host kind of provoked the fan surge by teasing them with all things about Justin BIeber.
Justin tried to salvage the situation by performing his latest single “Baby” in the Sunrise Studio in Sydney. After which, he advised his fans to go home – as per the authorities’ instructions. He was scheduled to perform three songs for the show though.
And as usual, Bieber took it to his Twitter page to compensate, clarify, apologize and show his gratitude to his fans’ undying love and support. Saying that he loves his fans, he loves Australia and he loves to sing. His fans safety are of utmost importance and he made it clear that it wasn’t him who decided to abort the show, but the Sydney Police.
BIeber has a history of show cancelation due to fans stampede. Just last November, Bieber was scheduled to perform at the Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island in New York when again, because of a rumored sighting of the singer, the fans – about 30,000 of them – broke out into chaos that caused a stampede and the eventual cancelation of the show at the last minute. The incident resulted not only to five reported injuries, but also of Bieber’s manager being charged of reckless endangerment and criminal nuisance. Scott “Scooter” Braun pleaded not guilty to the said charges.
Reports have also come out about a Bieber show in Paris that resulted to a fan stampede, as well. The incident in Sydney is apparently, the third fan stampede incident to be filed under Bieber’s name.
