Justin Bieber: Texas Beer Brouhaha, TABC Says Photo Isn’t Incriminating
Justin Bieber’s racy weekend in Houston, Texas, during which the 19-year-old singer was snapped holding a bottle of beer at a nightclub has launched an investigation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).
The “Heartbreaker” superstar was seen in photos holding an open bottle of Dos Equis while partying at the Nox nightclub on Friday (Oct. 18).
Justin was attending a party for champion boxer (and pal) Floyd Mayweather, CultureMap reports.
Before hitting Nox the high-octane pair dropped by V Live, a Houston gentleman’s club where Bieber was photographed shirtless and nearly pantless and was reportedly handsy during an alleged lap dance.
TMZ, who naturally went big on both stories, reported a TABC rep had confirmed a complaint had been filed over concerns Justin illegally drank alcohol at Nox. The gossip site added that if it was decided the club was liable they could be fined and have their liquor licence revoked.
However, CultureMap’s contact with the TABC revealed the organization’s more muted view of the complaint.
TABC communications director Carolyn Beck told CultureMap an investigation is ongoing, but she also suggested TMZ’s Bieber obsession had made more of the incident than is warranted.
“We did file a complaint… although, to be honest, just a photo is not enough evidence,” Beck said, adding that any attorney would argue the contents of the beer bottle couldn’t be proven.
Houston club promoter Lil Keith (who organized the Nox event) says Bieber wasn’t drinking alcohol at the party and suggests the widely circulated image was Photoshopped.
“Floyd, he was already partying and Justin just popped up in the club and he just joined in with the party crowd,” Lil Keith told KTRK Ch. 13, adding,”The whole time he had Fiji water because, that’s what Floyd drinks too, because Floyd don’t even drink alcohol. Actually, if there was alcohol in the area, it was from his friends.”
Said Fiji consumption by Bieber can be seen in this Instagram video posted by Lil Keith.
In other news, Bieber pooh-poohed reports claiming he was punched inside a Dominican Republic nightclub during a scuffle involving his bodyguards and clubgoers on Monday night (Oct. 21).
Taking to Twitter yesterday, the Canadian wrote,
Love how people exaggerate things. This is what the #BelieveMovie is all about. I’m loving DR. Show day today. See everyone soon
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) October 22, 2013
In later tweets, Justin waxed lyrical about his upcoming movie-documentary Believe, telling his now over 46 million followers, “u are going to see a side of life you cant even imagine. you are going to fly (sic).”
Additional hype came from his manager Scooter Braun after an apparently successful screening for Island Records.
@hoogs @IslandRecords @justinbieber and they LOVED IT! exact words were “WOW, Shocked” #BelieveMovie
— Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) October 24, 2013
Having just played Believe tour shows in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, Bieber is set to perform in Panama City, Panama on Thursday night. Evidently enjoying the Latin America leg, the singer tweeted a viddy of a “Meet & Greet” with fans after reflecting:
blessed to be out here seeing the world. love sharing this new music with you and love bringing u a new movie. so much more to come.
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) October 24, 2013
