TORONTO — Rocker Jon Bon Jovi said Canadian pop star Justin Bieber is an “a**hole” for showing up late to his concerts.
Bieber disappointed young fans when he took the stage at London’s O2 Arena nearly two hours late in March. He later blamed technical issues and said he was, in fact, only 40 minutes late.
“Every generation has guys that do that, none of that is new,” Bon Jovi, 51, told the London Evening Standard. “They run the risk of disrespecting their audience members who have worked hard to pay for their ticket, to give you the permission to take two or three hours of their lives — or in that kid’s case, 80 minutes of their lives.”
Bon Jovi added: “Do it once, you can be forgiven. Do it enough times and shame on you. They won’t have you back. Then it just becomes a cliché. It’s really not cool — you’re an a**hole. Go to f***in’ work!”
The rock star, currently on tour in Europe, made his comments at the same time Bieber was being booed at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
“I’m 19 years old. I think I’m doing a pretty good job,” the London, Ont.-born singer fired back. “I really just want to say it should really be about the music. It should be about the craft, the craft that I’m making. This is not a gimmick. I’m an artist and I should be taken seriously and all this other bull should not be spoken of.”
In March, actress-singer Sandra Bernhard told Toronto radio station KiSS 92.5 she thinks Bieber is “a punk” and she would like to “transport him into outer space.”
Appearing on Global’s The Morning Show, Ottawa-born singer Paul Anka, 71, said Bieber needs to surround himself with people he can trust.
“None of us was born sophisticated,” he added. “You’ve got to gain some wisdom.”
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