Culture

Justin Bieber ‘turned down $5m’ offer to sing at Republican Convention

Aug 01 2016
Written by Nick Duffy

Justin Bieber was reportedly offered a $5 million fee to perform at the Republican National Convention last month – but turned it down.

Gossip outlet TMZ reports the claim from sources close to the Baby singer’s management agency CAA.

The source says that a promoter had tried to nail down Bieber for a performance in Cleveland, Ohio near the Quicken Loans Arena – where the RNC was taking place.

The 45-minute performance would apparently have been Bieber’s biggest payday to date, netting $5 million upfront for a set at the Republican event.

The singer apparently “seriously considered” the offer – but turned it down after it was made clear that he would be banned from making fun of the GOP or Presidential nominee Donald Trump during the event.

Bieber’s band, who are all African-Americans, had allegedly urged the singer not to accept the booking.

Manager Scooter Braun may have had some influence in the decision. Braun is a Democrat who has held fundraisers for Hillary Clinton in the past.

TMZ reports: “We’re told Scooter wasn’t heavy-handed at first, and talked to Justin about putting Black Lives Matter banners up in the venue.

“We’re told Braun was told he could not display BLM banners, but the donors would accept banners that read ‘All Lives Matter.’ The donors also made it clear … Justin could say nothing disparaging about Trump or the GOP.

“We’re told Scooter told Justin it was up to him if he wanted to do the show, but he said he couldn’t continue to represent the singer if he did, out of principle. Scooter felt the GOP was using Bieber as its tool.”