Justin Bieber To Sleep Rough In L.A. For Homeless, Likely Bogus Report Claims
Justin Bieber allegedly intends to sleep rough on the streets of Los Angeles, California, to raise awareness about the plight of homeless youths, according to a probably bogus, new report in the Daily Star.
The tabloid claims the 20-year-old singer is being urged to spend a night on the streets by his manager, Scooter Braun, to “rehabilitate” his image by spreading awareness about the homeless.
“[Scooter] has been trying to come up with a plan to give Justin’s career some longevity,” an alleged source apparently said of the homeless effort claim.”As soon as Justin’s fans grow up, it’s a worry that he’ll fall off the map. This seems like a solution.”
It’s a curious rewriting of history, given that Bieber already supports a number of charities.
In July, the singer was presented with the “Champ of Charity” award at the 2014 Young Hollywood Awards in recognition of five years of work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which continues.
Bieber is the biggest musician contributor to the organization, which grants the “wishes” of terminally ill children. To date, the “Baby” singer has fulfilled 226 wishes (and counting).
At the Young Hollywood Awards, after being presented with his award, Bieber gifted it to an 11-year-old Make-A-Wish candidate — Grace Kesablak — who was the singer’s “date” for the night.
Our #MCM goes to @justinbieber. Tune in tonight to see this incredible moment with @celebritygrace at on @CW_network! pic.twitter.com/EExagq03Rq
— YoungHollywoodAwards (@YHAwards) July 28, 2014
Two months earlier in May, Bieber outbid actor Leonardo DiCaprio, paying $545,000 for a Bulgari “Serpenti” necklace at the 21st Cinema Against AIDS amfAR charity gala. It was held during the Cannes Film Festival. Money raised went to benefit ongoing research into a cure for AIDS.
In addition, the singer also supports and partially funds Pencils of Promise (PoP) — a non-profit organization which builds schools in developing countries.
As previously reported, Bieber donated a portion of the proceeds from sales of his debut fragrance “Someday” and 2011 Christmas album Under The Mistletoe, along with a later $1 levy on concert tickets sold on the North American leg of his Believe tour, to Pencils of Promise.
Last year, during the South American run of that tour, Bieber physically helped to build a school for impoverished kids in a rural area in Guatemala with the organization.
On December 10, 2013, the singer visited the Philippines, which had recently been hit by Typhoon Haiyan. It killed thousands and dispossessed millions more. Through an online fundraiser Bieber set up named, #GiveBackPhilippines, over $3 million was raised to help survivors of the tragedy.
The Canadian also performed an acoustic concert during his visit.
Bieber previously contributed to the Songs for the Philippines compilation album featuring artists including Beyoncé, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, and more to raise funds for the Typhoon Haiyan relief effort.
Back in 2011, Bieber matched a $100,000 donation made by the Target stores chain to the Whitney Elementary School in Las Vegas, which is attended mainly by children from poor, immigrant families. In December that year, the then 17-year-old star showed up at Whitney with an additional $100,000 worth of presents for the children and performed a show.
He has continued to show support for the school. In 2013, the pop star teamed up with ConAgra Foods’ acclaimed Child Hunger Ends Here initiative, and pledged to stock the kitchen of Whitney Elementary for a year.
Days before the 2013 Billboard Music Awards last May, Bieber and his team visited the school with supplies and hung out with the delighted children.
In previous years, Bieber donated money to a food bank in Stratford, Ontario, which his mother, Pattie Mallette, used when she and her then baby son lived in supported housing.
The Daily Star’s report mentions Braun’s work with homeless charities, which his father Ervin Braun (who recently slept rough in New York) supports. However, it doesn’t make the tabloid’s claim, or its incorrect premise that Bieber is somehow lacking in the charitable efforts department, any more credible.
Since late October, Bieber stepped-up his church attendance and is reportedly receiving ongoing guidance from pastor Carl Lentz of the Hillsong NYC Church and pastor Judah Smith of the The City Church in Seattle, Washington. The singer has also reportedly quit using marijuana.
Despite these, it seems certain tabloids are unwilling to allow the entertainer to move past his previous missteps.
Instead, some in the news cycle find value in undermining Bieber’s efforts by focusing on now denied rumors that he is dating Hailey Baldwin, and publishing poorly sourced reports designed to generate snark from readers — and already in evidence across the Internet.
