Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Justin Bieber isn't retiring from music after all

All celebrations must now end as the 'Boyfriend' singer is here to stay

Jess Denham
Thursday 19 December 2013 13:27 GMT
Comments
Dashed hopes: Justin Bieber was 'just messing around' and will not be retiring
Dashed hopes: Justin Bieber was 'just messing around' and will not be retiring (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

We all thought Christmas had come a week early when news of pop star Justin Bieber’s supposed 'retirement from music' broke on Wednesday.

But it was nothing more than a cruel December fools, as his manager has now confirmed that the "Baby" singer was joking when he made the announcement on a US radio station.

"Um, I'm actually retiring man," Bieber told Power 106 FM radio host Kurt Alexander in Los Angeles. "I'm just gonna take some time. I think I'm probably gonna quit music, I'm quitting everything."

The Twittersphere exploded with the news as Bieber's panic-stricken fanbase - the dedicated 'Beliebers' -posted frantic messages of shock, worry and teenage heartbreak.

Now, the full interview has been released, with the pop star revealing that he was "messing around".

Speculation that Bieber's comment was a practical joke had been rife when no official statement or comment appeared on his website or Twitter after the interview.

But the singer's manager Scooter Braun has since confirmed that his artist was "just kidding". "Next year he's taking a break just to make music and relax, take some time for himself for the first time since he was 12," he told ITN at the premiere for his new movie Believe.

Bieber hit international stardom when Braun scouted him through YouTube videos in 2007.

The singer has now amassed more than 47 million followers in Twitter, making him one of the most-followed musicians in the world.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in