We’re not sure how the GOP establishment would have handled it, but Justin Bieber was reportedly this close to performing at the RNC. We apparently have LeBron James to thank for Bieber’s decision to turn down a reported $5 million offer to take the stage.
According to TMZ, James urged Bieber to stay away from the convention. Reportedly, one of the draws for Bieber when he was considering the offer was that a promoter told his manager, Scooter Braun, that James would also be attending to welcome the RNC to Cleveland, Ohio, without endorsing anyone.
This, of course, was false advertising.
“Our sources say the promoter told Scooter … LeBron James himself was also going to attend an event in Cleveland, welcoming the GOP without taking a political stand. The sources tell us Justin’s people got in touch with LeBron’s people, and they were told LeBron would actually not be in Cleveland for the convention and urged Justin not to go as well.”
Of further note is the fact that Bieber’s band is fully comprised of African-Americans, and none of them wanted to do the gig.
Braun, who is a Hillary Clinton supporter, per TMZ, is also reported to have given Bieber an ultimatum on the matter. If he had taken the gig, his manager would have walked.
Needless to say, it seems like taking James’ lead by not playing at the RNC was the best possible move Bieber could have made in this case.