Is Justin Bieber The Worst Festival Headline Act In History?

It was announced earlier this week that Justin Bieber is to headline the Fusion music festival in Birmingham, England on August 28. The festival is scheduled to take place in the city’s Cofton park and will be Justin Bieber’s first appearance in the UK since his disastrous tour in 2013.

The Mirror points out that Bieber’s 2013 tour was “plagued by difficulties.” In his previous visit to the UK, Justin Bieber was accused of being unprofessional and was roundly booed by fans when he turned up two hours late for a sold out show at London’s O2 arena. Doors for the show had opened at 6.30 p.m. for a scheduled start at 8.30 p.m., and Justin Bieber showed up around 10.30 p.m., leaving many of his young fans stranded and others missing the show as a result of having to catch transport home.

During a subsequent show at the O2 arena, Bieber left the stage citing “breathing difficulties,” but returned after treatment to finish the show. The BBC reports that on the same tour, Justin Bieber hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons when he lashed out at a photographer. Bieber later explained himself saying that he had been having a “rough week.” Bieber later told his 45 million Twitter followers that his adrenaline was running high and he had “let the paps get the best of me” in London.

Bieber’s list of misdemeanors doesn’t end there, of course, and there have been numerous incidents of inappropriate or loutish behavior and run-ins with the law since that date.

Justin Bieber is headlining the Friday evening of the Fusion festival, with Rudimental and McBusted filling the Saturday and Sunday slots. Justin Bieber, for his part, appears to be looking forward to the event.

“I love the UK and I’m excited to be playing at Fusion this year, here are some great artists on the line-up so to be headlining the Friday night, is a real honor.”

During his recent Comedy Central Roast, a show which makes jokes at the guest’s expense, 21-year-old Justin Bieber admitted that his behavior had turned a lot of people off him, but said he was trying to turn his life around.

“I’ve turned a lot of people off in the last few years, but I know I can still put out good music and turn everything all around. There was really no preparing me for this life. I was thrown into this at 12 years old.”

The announcement of Justin Bieber headlining the festival has caused quite a stir amongst Bieber’s UK fans many of whom are excited to see the young star return to the UK. Whether you love Bieber or loath him, it cannot be denied that booking him is a coup for the Fusion festival. What remains to be seen is whether booking Justin Bieber will be an inspired choice.

If Justin Bieber behaves as he did on his last visit to the UK, he could prove to be the worst festival headline act in history.

[Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images]