Justin Bieber's Believe Tour has found itself in yet another spot of controversy. Yesterday (Nov. 13), footage hit the web of Bieber mistreating the Argentine flag and went viral, causing outrage in the South American country and even making his most dedicated Beliebers feel uncomfortable.
The video, from Saturday night (Nov. 9) shows a fan throwing two Argentine flags up on stage. According to AP, most musicians will then hold up the flag as a symbol of pride, but instead, Bieber moved the symbol offstage, first using his bright red shoes and eventually using his microphone stand. In addition to cheers from the audience, boos and shouts of "No" can be heard in the clip.
Mistreating the flag of Argentina is a serious diss on the country and punishable by up to four years in prison.
Since his action caused much controversy, Bieber has now addressed the incident on his Twitter, insisting that he was not aware that the object thrown up on stage depicted a flag and that it was actually a shirt. However, even if it was a flag, Bieber insisted he would never do anything to hurt his fans or Argentina.
"[H]eard about what is going on with me down in Argentina and im shocked. I love Argentina and have had some of the best shows of my tour there. People throw stuff on my stage all show and I get it to the stage hands to get off so no one got hurt. That video I saw a bra and thought it was a shirt. I'm being told by my team it was a shirt but even if it was a flag I would never do anything to disrespect Argentina or the people of Argentina or the fans" he wrote in a multi-tweet post. "I'm so sorry for anyone who took my actions the wrong way and I hope you can forgive this mistake.
So once again to the people of Argentina. I'm sorry if that was taken the wrong was and I'm sorry for my mistake. I hope you can accept this.. and I loved my time there performing for you and look forward to coming back. I gave my all and I know the fans did there too. Te amo. I would never do anything to disrespect my fans. I don't like having to defend myself but this time it was needed as I mean no disrespect."
The Argentine flag/T-shirt incident is just one of many things to plague Bieber's Believe Tour this month. The "All Bad" singer was also spotted coming out of a brothel, footage of him sleeping beside a "fan" went viral and he's cut two shows short in South America, one due to getting hit with a water bottle and the other due to food poisoning.
