Singer Justin Bieber has been accused of making Nazi motions but his fans have come to his defense.
Jewish reporter Judah Ari Gross posted a video of Bieber during a performance in Finland.
“Justin Bieber, who’s apparently still a thing, decided to goose-step and do a sieg Heil at a concert in Finland yesterday. The Conference of European Rabbis denounced his actions and demands an explanation,” Gross tweeted.
He added, “Will he repeat the performance when he comes to Israel this fall?”
Justin Bieber, who's apparently still a thing, decided to goose-step and do a sieg Heil at a concert in Finland yesterday.
— Judah Ari Gross (@JudahAriGross) August 10, 2022
The Conference of European Rabbis denounced his actions and demands an explanation.
Will he repeat the performance when he comes to Israel this fall? pic.twitter.com/CtIoIgZl7T
Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, responded to the incident in a statement to The Times of Israel.
“The famous singer slapped the faces of millions of Jews across the world when he chose to perform the ‘sieg heil’ movement that symbolizes identification with Nazi party values,” Goldschmidt said.
He added, “It is unthinkable that a singer with tens of millions of fans and followers around the world allows himself to adopt such conduct on European soil soaked with the blood of millions of Jews and other minorities, who were brutally murdered by the Nazi oppressor.”
Other users took to Twitter to defend Bieber.
One user tweeted, “This is the most ridiculous tweet and accusation. Justin is clearly just lifting the mic to the crowd as he stops across the stage and back.”
The tweet continues, “And if the old Rabbis of Europe were truly offended, then it’s the old Rabbis who need educating.”
This is the most ridiculous tweet and accusation.
— Ari Ingel (@OGAride) August 11, 2022
Justin is clearly just lifting the mic to the crowd as he stops across the stage and back.
And if the old Rabbis of Europe were truly offended, then it's the old Rabbis who need educating. https://t.co/dy3UkVRIGK
Another tweeted, “Ladies and gentlemen this tweet is from a journalist incase you every wonder why there’s so much fake news.”
Ladies and gentlemen this tweet is from a journalist incase you every wonder why there’s so much fake news https://t.co/XopH2vzYLS
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) August 10, 2022
Check out more reactions below:
That's neither a sieg Heil nor a goose-step.
— Lauren Chen (@TheLaurenChen) August 10, 2022
You're just a perpetual victim looking to be offended. https://t.co/RtwlaU4Bn9
People love to be offended. It gives them a sense of struggle & purpose. It also makes them feel better about whatever disappoints them about their own lives. That’s why so many guard their victim status so jealously. If you take that away from them, they fear they’ll be nothing. https://t.co/ptJj8dq0zu
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) August 10, 2022
It’s incredible that you’re being serious. Justin Bieber isn’t goose-stepping and he’s not doing the sieg heil. He’s holding a mic up like performers often do and he’s doing a choreographed move 1000’s of other artists have done to match the pace and mood of the music. Insanity. https://t.co/coLbvOPBTm
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 10, 2022
No he didn’t. Please stop. https://t.co/RP2ijVlB1W
— Robby Soave (@robbysoave) August 10, 2022
please stop this hysterical nonsense. https://t.co/BSWS9FzOjE
— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) August 10, 2022
A representative of Nidar Oz Communications told the Times, “These are dance moves…Dance moves are meant to entertain. Not everything has to do with the Jewish people, with all the love we have for ourselves.”
