Justin Bieber Says He Feels 'Like A Zoo Animal', Will No Longer Take Photos With Fans
To save his sanity, Justin Bieber has announced that he is done posing for photos with fans.
Following his much-snapped and much-talked-about barefoot stroll around Boston on Monday, May 9, the Canadian singer/songwriter took to Instagram to vent his frustration with fans, who hounded him as he made his way around the city's Public Garden and Boston Common.
"If you happen to see me out somewhere know that I'm not gonna take a picture," the "Purpose" artist wrote. "I'm done taking pictures."
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The 22-year-old "Love Yourself" singer has been in the public eye for a good portion of his young life. He was discovered on YouTube in 2007 and rose to superstardom soon after. "The Biebs," as he is sometimes called, has released four chart-topping albums, won numerous awards and been ranked among the most powerful celebrities in the world. His fan base, known as "beliebers," consists mainly of tweens and teenage girls.
But while Bieber's fans have propelled his rise to the top, they have also, on more than one occasion, left the pop star feeling less like a human being and more like a "zoo animal." For years, the young artist has had to deal with paparazzi and screaming fans following his every move, staking out his hotels, and clamoring for photos and autographs.
"It has gotten to the point that people won't even say hi to me or recognize me as a human," Bieber wrote in his Instagram post. "I feel like a zoo animal, and I wanna be able to to keep my sanity."
According to the singer, while he knows that fans will be disappointed by his announcement, he has also come to realize that he doesn't owe anyone a photo.
"[A]nd people who say 'but I bought ur album' know that you got my album and you got what you paid for AN ALBUM!" he wrote. "It doesn't say in fine print whenever you see me you also get a photo."
ET Online reports that in March, Bieber also expressed his exhaustion at meeting fans and cancelled several scheduled meet-and-greets, saying that these events have left him feeling "mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression."
Bieber is currently on the road for the Purpse World Tour, his third worldwide tour. He was in Boston for two shows at the TD Garden. After Boston, the singer is off to Canada, where he will be performing in eight different cities until mid-June.
