Pop superstar Justin Bieber lashed out at a photographer as he lost his temper in the latest drama during his UK tour — just hours after a health scare forced him to leave the stage.
The 19-year-old Canadian singer burst out of a vehicle and lunged at the man but was restrained by minders in an incident which was captured by a film cameraman. He had been hustled into a vehicle by his team after leaving his central London hotel — but he then burst from the van, swearing and making threatening comments.
“What did you say? What did you say?” he shouted, before swearing as his heavies dragged him back in the vehicle.
The footage has been posted on the Channel 5 News website, after a week which has seen him castigated for letting down fans, then being treated by medics after struggling for breath on stage. Bieber described his frustration and said he “let the paps get the best of me”, adding that his adrenaline was high with a series of messages on Twitter.
“Trying to feel better for this show tonight but let the paps get the best of me,” he wrote.
“Sometimes when people are shoving cameras in your face all day and yelling the worst thing possible at you — well, I’m human. Rough week.
“Not gonna let them get the best of me again. Gonna get focused on this show tonight. Adrenaline is high now. Gonna put it on the stage.
“Only way someone can break you is if you let them,” he added.
Charles Murray, a cameraman for 5 News witnessed the incident and said it was “an angry outburst”.
He went on: “He deliberately went out of his way to shove the photographer. The photographer shouted back at him as Bieber got into his car.
“Bieber then decided to get back out of the car and slapped his camera out of the way.”
The star, wearing a red top and beanie hat, was heard to shout: “I’ll beat the f*** out of you.”
The Canadian singer is due to perform another show at the O2 Arena tonight in a week he would probably prefer to forget. Last night he left the stage mid-song complaining of shortness of breath and was checked over by medics.