On Christmas Day — also the day of the release in theaters of ‘Believe 3D’ his movie — Justin Bieber Tweeted that he is retiring. His trio of enigmatic Tweets set off a firestorm of speculation, as well as consternation among his Beliebers.
What to make of this suddenly perennial retirement theme? Is the 19-year-old teen music superstar kidding? Is it a daring wish of his that, through the magic of Twitter, he casually shares with his 40+ million followers as well as the rest of the world, at the moment the thought crosses his mind?
For Miley Cyrus there is twerking. For Justin Bieber, it seems that retirement is the attention grabber. And, like the former Hannah Montana, he has something to sell, namely his newly released ‘Journals’ album which is No. 1 on iTunes in numerous countries around the world. There is also the aforementioned movie, ‘Believe 3D’ the Jon M. Chu-directed chronicle of his world tour of the same title which was so named after the album of the same title.
Here’s what he Tweeted first:
My beloved beliebers I’m officially retiring
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 25, 2013
The Tweet seemed to come out of nowhere even if the sentiment had not. He had caused his first uproar with an interview on Power 106 FM in L.A. on ‘Big Boy’s Neighborhood’ in which he said, “I’m actually retiring. I’m just going to take some time. I think I’m probably going to quit music.” Although he added, after a dramatic pause, “just kidding.”
Later, his manager, Scooter Braun — the man who discovered him on YouTube when he was a youngster in a small town in Ontario who had uploaded quite a few videos — spoke out in an interview with Access Hollywood in which he expressed the sentiment that for Justin Bieber’s “well being at 19, 20 years old” that he should “take time for himself, to figure out who he wants to be.”
While the words are wise and measured, their context can’t be overlooked. Justin Bieber has become the proverbial tabloid fodder for months with rumors, speculations, half-truths and full truths all stirred together for the maximum sensational impact. The strategy has worked, as it always does. From reports of the teen idol leaving brothels in Brazil or leaving graffiti on walls in Australia, there was a pile-on of stories.
Thus it’s not much of a surprise that less than an hour later Justin Bieber would Tweet again and say:
The media talks a lot about me.They make a up a lot of lies and want me to fail but I’m never leaving you, being a belieber is a lifestyle.
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 25, 2013
So by now, as the wee hours of Christmas morning were unfolding and the Beliebers who were not expecting Santa’s visit so much as their own trip to the theater to watch their idol on the silver screen, were left with something more to ponder. Certainly they would agree, in loyalty, that the media tells lies about their idol. But what’s this about his never leaving and being a belieber being a lifestyle. How does that all square with retirement?
Then came the third Tweet:
Be kind loving to each other, forgive each other as god forgave us through Christ Merry Christmas IM HERE FOREVER
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 25, 2013
Cynical marketing ploy to get attention on day one of the release of his movie? It’s a movie which, incidentally has no reviews, as there were no advance screenings for critics although even with a Christmas day release a few stalwarts have weighed in.
Notably the The Wrap observes: “[I]t’s a microscope of which the young star is all too aware, and there’s simply too much lacquer on his image to get through to who Bieber is or how he actually feels. “Believe” feels earnest but superficial, a next-chapter look at a star who hasn’t come enough to terms with where he’s come from to contemplate where he is, or where he’s going.”
Interestingly it also sums up the ‘retirement’ narrative now unfolding.
Pictures: PR Photos
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/L_dw5-gkbkg/
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