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Justin Bieber Fans Will Get Partial And Full Refunds For Canceled Meet And Greets

By Page Mackinley
Published on: 00:15 PST, Apr 2, 2016

Rejoice Beliebers! Justin Bieber fans affected by the pop superstar’s recent surprise cancellation of fan meet and greets on his Purpose World Tour will now get partial refunds on VIP packages and keep their concert tickets. Full refunds were always and are still available.

The refund policy is reportedly set by Bkstg, the company that Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun contracted with to arrange backstage fans’ experiences on the tour.

Previously, full refunds were the only course available to fans who wanted their money back. The changes were announced Saturday, April 1, at the Bkstg website.

The company acknowledged that they had read fans’ tweets and emails protesting the prior lack of partial refunds, adding that they’d come to the “hard decision together with management, and the Purpose World Tour” to cancel the Ultimate Purpose Experience VIP package for the rest of the North American tour. The package cost $2,000.

Notably, “Pit D” tickets that come with the Ultimate package are exclusive and not available for sale to the general public.

The other VIP package — the $950 “I’ll Show You Purpose Experience” — remains canceled. By Saturday afternoon, the big Justin Bieber fan sites were rolling out the updated refunds information.

Fans who booked meet and greets on the European dates have been advised to “hold tight” and watch out for emails “in the coming weeks.”

It looks like the VIP hangout alternatives are now not happening for the canceled “I’ll Show You” and “Ultimate Purpose Experience” packages on the North American leg. The choices are just partial or full refunds.

The “Where Are You Now” package, which did not include a meet and greet and photo with Justin, is unaffected.

In reply to an FAQ question posted at Bkstg, asking, “How can I get a refund for the Ultimate #Purpose Experience / I’ll Show You since the package has now been cancelled,” Bkstg advised fans to contact their “point of purchase” with their “order confirmation number” and details on refunds and ticket pick-ups will be explained.

Beliebers have until April 7 to decide which refund they want to take.

Noting the day, the fan site stressed the partial refund news wasn’t an April Fools prank.

Details of point of purchase contacts were also included.

To be clear: Fans who opt for partial refunds for the “Ultimate Purpose Experience” get $500 USD back and keep their pit concert seat. Fans who opt for full refunds with this package get the full $2000 back but have to give up their ticket to the show.

Fans who opt for partial refunds on the “I’ll Show You Purpose VIP Experience” get $375 USD back and keep their concert ticket. If they choose full refunds, they get back $950.

News of the partial refund first popped up on Twitter on Saturday when a fan shared that she received an email informing her partial refunds were now being offered for her VIP package.

The partial refund option comes after Bieber first announced via Instagram on March 22 that he was canceling all of his meets and greets on his Purpose World Tour, because they left him “drained” and “mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression,” as he feels he takes on “so much of other people’s spiritual energy.”

As well as Justin’s serious mental health concerns, TMZ also provided details of a reported security scare at one of the meet and greets at one of the singer’s recent Staples Center shows in Los Angeles, which reportedly added to the 22-year-old’s stress over interactions with fans before concerts.

On March 24, Bkstg eventually confirmed via its website that the “I’ll Show You Purpose Experience” and $2,000 “Ultimate Purpose Experience” were cancelled for the North American leg. At first, VIP hangouts were offered but that now appears to have been scrapped.

In addition to the disappointment many fans felt, many were left angered at the requirement of giving up Purpose Tour concert ticket to get refunds for canceled meets and greets, as the tour is mostly sold out and some fans said only pricey nosebleed seats were available.

As a result, fans took their rage to social media. Many also signed a petition calling for partial refunds.

Meanwhile, with most of his Purpose World Tour still ahead, Bieber been making sure he looks after his health on tour and meeting up with children and teens in the Make-A-Wish program before concerts.

Before performing at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Wednesday evening, the superstar received a massage from three people backstage that looks like the definition of heaven.

A photo of the Biebs getting the three-person massage shows one masseuse working on his hands, another on his scalp, as another got busy on the singer’s feet.

Justin’s friend and app co-creator John Shahidi took a photo of the pop prince lying on a table getting the much-deserved R&R, which he Instagrammed with the caption, “Very nice.”

At the same time as his triple-zone massage, the Biebs also received cupping therapy. This is an ancient technique, in which heated cups are placed on the skin to create a suction effect. It’s thought these aid relaxation of swelling, muscle knots, and general pain in the body.

The Purpose Tour concerts are rigorously athletic, 90-minute shows. The Biebs is on an 114-date trek while criss-crossing North America on a tour bus, so wear and tear on his body is likely. The singer also has a longstanding neck injury, for which he receives regular treatment from a chiropractor.

In addition to the three-person massage and cupping, the singer continued his ongoing work with Make A Wish, and met a blind teen girl (Yazmine Rad), who also suffers from a life-threatening illness, before his Glendale show. The non-profit organization fulfils one expressed “wish” of chronically or terminally ill youngsters.

The Biebs has worked with Make-A-Wish since 2009 and has carried out over 260 “wishes,” which is the highest count of any recording artist working with the foundation.

The girl’s mother shared a picture of their meeting, writing,” Thank you @justinbieber you made @yazyrad’s #MakeAWish dream come true!!!!! #JustinBieber #Phoenix #purposetour thank you @makeawisharizona!!!!!!”

Yazmine added, “Thank you for making my dream come true @justinbieber. #makeAWish #justinBieber #az #2016.”

As for whether or not Beliebers will be satisfied with the new partial and full refund options now available for the cancelled meet and greets, they will surely continue to express their feelings on social media.

[Images via Instagram]

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