Justin Bieber Addresses Media After Atlanta Radio Protest Hoax Exposes Failures
Justin Bieber has said little over the last few days while most outlets — including this one — routinely covered the TMZ-initiated rumor that the 19-year-old was eyeing a seven-bedroom mansion in Buckland, Atlanta, with a view to buy.
But the singer – who is currently staying at Dallas Austin’s unique “spaceship-styled” home – certainly had something to say hours after a highly effective hoax on the world’s media was revealed.
TMZ’s rumor inspired local radio station Rock 100.5’s The Regular Guys to prank hundreds of media outlets this weekend pulling off a a fake protest over Bieber’s supposed, potential new home by posing as the real Buckhead Neighborhood Coalition.
In the run-up and aftermath of the 06.00 am Monday protest, a flood of related media articles seemed to evidence mainstream media’s insatiable appetite for negative, traffic-courting-but-worthless stories about the teen star.
“by the way… never even looked at that house. smh,” Bieber tweeted Monday after taking seemingly weary aim at the media’s failure to independently verify either the Buckhead buy or neighbor protest stories.
Meanwhile, a soild news story that Bieber was honored with a star on the Philippines Walk of Fame last week for raising over $3 million for victims of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan last year was covered by less than five media outlets.
Another Monday tweet from the pop prince observed, “sad how media doesnt believe in fact checking anymore. report real things not fake things wow,” before linking his over 49 million followers to an Access Atlanta ‘Radio & TV Talk blog post explaining the ruse.
During its Monday’s edition, The Regular Guys host Larry Wachs revealed how the show’s cast assumed false identities to give interviews to local media outlets and fooled nationals like CNN, the BBC and TMZ.
Teasing media with a tabloid gold premise that Buckhead’s old money set were up in arms at the thought of the Biebs bringing his crew to their neck of the woods, the fake neighborhood coalition had no difficulty convincing outlets that the protest and its founders — Mr. and Mrs. Harold White — were on the money.
During Monday’s reveal Wachs claimed The Regular Guys show, “got 33 international media outlets including TMZ to generate 45,000 plus news stories,” reportedly adding news outlets were so eager to report the story they missed potential warning signs of brand new Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Dubbing the hoax “a big win,” Wach said the prank showed how easy it is to fool reporters who don’t check the credibility of sources.
The Regular Guys’ Tim Andrews, playing the role of ‘Harold’, told CNN over the weekend,
“We’re concerned he’ll bring the wrong type of element into a quiet, residential area,” fake Harold said of Bieber.”It is our position that a person with his means could certainly find a neighborhood more suited to his eclectic lifestyle.”
(Photo: Fake Buckhead Neighborhood Coalition protestors.)
Meanwhile, the Facebook page launched by the fake Mrs. White with in-character, damning Bieber mission statement went viral, while attracting 444 R.S.V.Ps to the protest and acres of divided comment.
According to the Access Atlanta blog post, media crew from four local TV station, a Miami correspondent for TMZ, Star 94 and Power 96.1, mingled with three interns and crew from The Regular Guys dressed up in suits and bearing placards at the appallingly early hour of 6 am. Two civilians were also there, but it turns out they were radio show implants ‘mocking’ the protestors already mocking.
Irony? The real Buckhead Neigborhood Coalition president Sam Massell now says Bieber is welcome in the neighborhood and his vocalist daughter, Melanie, “is beside herself” at the idea of the superstar moving in.
“If I meet him I’ll be cordial like I would with anyone else,” Massell adds “I suspect he has a good side.”
Before signing off Monday, Bieber’s tweets respectively declared and mused,
me, my team, and my beliebers we are focused on the music. that is what matters. much love to everybody
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) February 25, 2014
bday week. wish the world would learn to believe in the goodness in people and be kind to one another. together we can change the world ?
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) February 25, 2014
Listen here to the hosts of The Regular Guys Show on Rock 100.5 in Atlanta, GA explain their protest hoax.
