Music

Justin Bieber fans left waiting during concert at O2 Arena
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Parents angry at Justin Bieber concert delay

By Jennie Slevin
March 05, 2013

A mother has spoken of her outrage after taking her daughter to a Justin Bieber concert which didn't end until midnight.

Carolyn Potter's 16-year-old daughter, Joanna, and a friend went to the concert at the O2 arena in London last night (Monday) but the 19-year-old pop-star didn't appear on stage until nearly two hours after he was billed.

The Crowthorne mother said: "It just shows a complete lack of consideration.

"He didn't explain why he'd kept them waiting for so long.

"I'm just really disappointed, most of his fans are between 11 and 16 and it was a school night.

"I know he's old enough to go clubbing now but his fans are still very young."

Carolyn and her husband travelled to the show in their car but said there were lots of people who may have ended up stranded in the capital city. She added: "It's a really big venue and there was just a river of people coming out.

"They didn't leave the arena until just after midnight.

"There was an announcement saying the last train would leave at 12.19am and there was a huge crush trying to get into the tube station.

"We bumped into another couple who were waiting for their daughter and they'd parked at Bracknell train station, they were going to have to get a train to Reading and then a taxi back to Bracknell.

"I don't know what we'd have done if we hadn't have driven, I don't think we could have made them leave early."

Beliebers were treated to a set by Canadian 'Call Me Maybe' singer Carly Rae Jepson while they waited, whereas many parents flocked online to rant about their disappointment in the teen star.

While she waited outside the arena the angry parent went to Twitter and wrote: "@justinbeiber. All your audience are school age kids. What are you playing at going on stage after 10pm.

"Not very responsible behaviour. Lots of your audience have an hour's or more journey home after this.

"Not to mention all the parents sitting waiting outside. Not impressed at all."

The family eventually got home at 1.45am but the girls didn't have any issue getting up for school this morning.

Carolyn said: "I told Joanna there wasn't going to be any messing around!"

The singer took to Twitter himself this afternoon (Tuesday) to apologise. He said: "Since I have been here it hasnt been easy with the press at times but I have loved it. so let me say this...

"Last night i was scheduled after three opening acts to go on stage at 9.35pm not 8.30pm but because of some technical issues i got on at 10.10pm..so... I was 40 min late to stage.

"There is no excuse for that and I apologize [sic] for anyone we upset.

"However it was great show and I'm proud of that"

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I am not just meaning Phillip Lee but other stories which would be worth commenting on. I try to comment on both good and bad. Alas, the good stories only ever seem to get my comment and the occasional passerby. Like the Weymead story. Shame really as it often seems we are only on here to moan and gripe when we’re not. I cannot even think of putting a comment on the new story re the Look-in at the moment as all I can think of is negative things. Wonder if they’ve got their customers to actually do the walk up there? If they have, perhaps they will see it’s totally unsuitable in my opinion. Not the Look-ins fault at all. I actually feel sorry for them but my negative comments aren’t aimed at them, it’s the idiots who have chosen the relocation venue.

HK, bracknell
06/03/2013 at 15:50

HK perhaps the reason only a few comment about Phillip Lee is because they're the minority.

Mr Mischief
06/03/2013 at 14:55

'Crikey, I bet you lot are an absolute riot at parties....' HatsOfDoom

Only at weekends!

LarryS
06/03/2013 at 12:42

If one loses the faith in people then what hope do we have! Come on you silent readers, read, comment and make a difference.

HK, bracknell
06/03/2013 at 12:34

HK, you have more faith in the idiots that live in this town than me!

Philip Lee is taking a huge wage from our money to mis-represent Bracknell in his attempt at becoming a big boy. But let's leave him to it and instead moan about a little kid who affected 1 family from Bracknell's bedtimes...

Bruce Wayne
06/03/2013 at 11:56

Well said Hazel.

Neal Evans, Forest Park
06/03/2013 at 11:54

The one thing that has come from this story is seeing there are more than the regular posters who read things on this site. It is just a shame they seldom feel the urge to comment on stories that matter rather than on a jumped up kid who is not long out of school shorts. Perhaps if could contribute to stories that matter, our voices would be heard more and people like Dr Lee would get the message and disappear!

HK, bracknell
06/03/2013 at 10:46

Crikey, I bet you lot are an absolute riot at parties....

HatsOfDoom
06/03/2013 at 08:27

Bieber is a prat!

the badger
06/03/2013 at 08:07

Given the times we live in and the increasing inroads being made into our lives by the modern day robber barons I find it amazing that the late arrival of some vacuous youth causes more consternation to our communities than the gradual erosion of health services, corruption in politics, business, etc.

timespassing
06/03/2013 at 07:28

Agreed Smiffy. Those parents complaining that the concert finished late after making the parental decision to let them go / take them are making a mountain here.

Barbie Q
05/03/2013 at 16:42

I'm sorry, I forgot that all school kids are tucked up in bed at 8pm! I agree that irrespective of when he did or didn't start singing, it is pretty stupid having gigs aimed at kids on school nights. However, we are looking at the exception rather than the rule, so some people need to relax a bit.

LarryS - what rules have been broken? I don't think there is a rule saying kids can't go out in the evening? Assuming things were as expected, most of them would be tucked up in bed at midnight, which for a 16 year old is probably only a couple of hours later than usual. The words mountain and molehill come to mind!

Smiffy, Reading
05/03/2013 at 16:23

The "super mothers" doing the rounds on Sky News and the BBC News channel, are saying their children are four, eight and twelve. I suspect they sniff a little compensation. Teens, I would suggest have less trouble with one late night, depending on the child, but surely, even in today's PC, anything goes, kids and their parents can do no wrong world, kids of four, eight and twelve should not be out that late on a school night, should they?

My child, who now has three of her own, would not take our youngest two, aged six and nine, to a concert on the otherside of the capital on a school night; that is her choice and she had similar boundaries set when she was at home and that young.

Tonk, Wokingham
05/03/2013 at 16:23

Smiffy, I choose to go on holiday in term time, for the same reason I frequent pubs and restaurants that don't allow children in, because I don't want to spend my down time in the company of children, and actually find adults strange who do (unless they're your own of course). One of my pet hates is that there are too many parents who feel that their offspring are mini adults and should be allowed in adult environments without letting them know it's such.

Anyway I digress, I have no issue with parents treating their children to concerts and the like, just don't complain, and give children false expectations and a sense of entitlement, when plans go a little awry - as they do for all of us from time to time.

Barbie Q
05/03/2013 at 16:18

Smiffy - no wonder some kids grow into adults who think normal rules don't apply to them. And as for 'these are teenagers who can probably handle it' - yeah, right!