I Want to Belieb

He’s Canadian, he’s handsome, and he croons songs that make girls (and boys) swoon. He shot to fame at 12 years old after being discovered on YouTube. Nearly 50 million people on Twitter follow his every move. Who is he?

Only one of the biggest pop stars of this generation — Justin Bieber. The 19-year-old teen pop sensation has adoring fans from all over the world, and I’d wager there isn’t a single person at SFU who doesn’t know his name.

Love him or hate him, the Biebs has done pretty well for himself over the past few years. With platinum albums under his belt along with two concert films and several product endorsements on the side, he has never been more famous or wealthy than he is now. Unfortunately, he has been making headlines recently for all the wrong reasons — scandal seems to follow him wherever he goes.

From angering fans in Brazil by kicking their flag off the stage to egging his neighbour’s house, Bieber can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Judgment and scrutiny only increased after a visit to the Anne Frank house, where he inconsiderately wrote that he hoped “she would’ve been a Belieber” in the guestbook. To top it all off, he was recently spotted sneaking out of a brothel, and was arrested for drag racing and driving under the influence only a few weeks ago.

His smiling mug shot was a disturbing sight and has outraged several people, who began to call for his deportation back to Canada. The Internet has exploded over these scandals, leading fans and spectators to wonder whether the teen star has truly lost his sense of self control.

Let’s get one thing straight: Bieber, like every other human being on the planet, is not perfect. How he responds to his actions and their consequences will ultimately determine his character. While his smiling mug shot may demonstrate a portrait of care for his fans, it also gives off an air of snobbishness and elitism. Frankly, it doesn’t help that he could easily pay off any fine that would be imposed on him, essentially giving him a free pass from the policies of the justice system.

Yet having money doesn’t stop criticism. His public image — notably his Instagram page, which is plastered with selfies — has also displayed what seems to be a narcissistic attitude. The sheer mention of Bieber’s name makes headlines, despite whatever else is going on in the world.

What is behind this reckless behaviour, anyhow? Can Bieber really be blamed for what he has done? Growing up with a single mom in Ontario, he didn’t exactly lead a charmed life before he became famous.

In cases like Justin’s, celebrities need our support much more than our criticism.

When his music career began to pick up speed, he didn’t have it easy, either. Even after he had released hit singles such as the mega-popular “Baby”, he was the subject of pervasive criticism. His pre-pubescent voice made people poke fun at his sexuality and masculinity. He was thrust into a spotlight in which his weaknesses could be picked apart by complete strangers who were judging him at every turn.

A child star placed in the centre of the media spotlight will inevitably suffer through many insecurities throughout their rise to fame. They are expected to appeal to a young and innocent demographic and are forced to appear that way themselves. There isn’t much breathing room for mistakes, and when they are made the media feeds off them in a frenzy — Bieber is a perfect example.

Every celebrity has their own way of dealing with this pressure; unfortunately, many turn to self-destructive or illegal behaviour in order to let off steam. Stars like Demi Lovato and Lindsay Lohan have also experienced a downward spiral, crushed under the weight of fame and the difficulty of shedding their teeny bopper images.

Being young, making mistakes and finding oneself does not go over well in Hollywood.

On the other hand, one could argue that Bieber’s arrest isn’t necessarily a bad thing for his career. Some celebrities seem to take on a “no publicity is bad publicity” attitude, constantly finding themselves in the tabloids for one reason or another.

Miley Cyrus is another example of a celeb whose reputation as a squeaky-clean Disney star went down the drain after her racy performance at the VMAs. Yet she has been a conversation topic and media buzzword ever since that performance, and her subsequent singles and album sales have skyrocketed as a result. She is making a living off of scandal, and the Biebs may be following in her footsteps.

Despite the fame and attention, if Bieber’s behaviour continues he’ll undoubtedly end up hurting himself and others around him. Unless he does something to change for the better, he’ll self-destruct, and take others down with him — all in the name of fame.

No matter how popular, celebrities are still human beings who are flawed and make mistakes. No matter how much they are glorified, they’re not gods, and in cases like Justin’s, they need our support much more than our criticism. It is only when we realize this as a society that our world will become a better, less self-absorbed place.