Justin Bieber's career has had its ups and downs, but it is safe to say that he has been successful overall as a musician, and he has definitely made his mark on the music industry. People would normally think that any country would welcome him as a guest, right? Besides satisfying the singer's legion of fans, it could help with the hosting country's economy as well.
Apparently, that's not always the case. In a recent article by Rolling Stone, it was reported that Justin Bieber has been banned from performing in China, of all places. The Chinese government released a statement citing the singer's "Bad Behavior" as the reason for the ban.
A talented, albeit controversial singer
"As far as we are concerned, he has engaged in a series of bad behaviors, both in his social life and during a previous performance in China, which caused discontent among the public," the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture said. They did state that Bieber is a talented singer, but that that was not enough to lift the ban caused by his previous controversies.
They also mentioned how the singer's behavior could affect the Chinese market negatively, as well as the Chinese performance environment that they said they aim to "purify." They concluded the statement by saying that they wish Bieber would improve his words and actions as he becomes more mature, so that he could become a singer that is "truly beloved" by the masses.
This statement actually came as an answer to an inquiry that asked why Justin Bieber has not performed in the country for so long.
China and its other bans
It is clear that China does not want anything to do with Justin Bieber in the meantime, and it appears that this decision is not without precedent. In 2013, he caused fan commotion in front of the Beijing Mall while he was skateboarding, and there was also an instance where he was carried by his bodyguards atop the Great Wall of China.
Justin Bieber also heard from the Chinese authorities in 2014, when the singer visited Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine. The shrine had always been controversial and Qin Gang, the Foreign Minister of China at the time, said that he hoped the singer learned more about Japanese militarism, and how the views promoted by the shrine are "wrong."
China has been known for banning entertainers and artists from entering their country for reasons that seem to be singular: their stance on Tibet.
They banned Lady Gaga because she communed with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan leader. They also banned Bjork, Oasis, Maroon 5, and Bon Jovi because these artists spoke out in favor of the independence of Tibet.
