
Bieber’s popularity has caused safety concerns. While promoting
My World, Bieber was scheduled to appear at Long Island’s Roosevelt Field Mall, but the performance had to be cancelled.
[39] The event got out of control, and over 35 units from the Nassau County and Garden City police departments had to be called in. Several fans received minor injuries. The police arrested an Island Records senior vice-president, James A. Roppo, reportedly for hindering the police’s crowd control efforts by not sending a timely message on Twitter as instructed by the police.
[39] James Roppo pleaded not guilty to all charges.
[40][41] On March 24, 2010, Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, was arrested on one count of second-degree reckless endangerment and one count of second-degree criminal nuisance related to the incident. Braun pleaded not guilty to both charges and was later released.
[42]
On April 26, 2010, a scheduled promotional performance was cancelled by Australian police after several girls were injured in a crowd crush. Bieber was scheduled to sing three songs for the Channel Seven program, Sunrise. In a Twitter message after the incident, Bieber said: “I want to make this clear… I don’t cancel.” Bieber’s tweet continued, stating: “I woke up this morning to the police canceling the show for safety reasons. I’m very happy about the welcome and the love from around the world, but I want everyone to still remember my fans safety comes first. At the end of the day I want you all to enjoy the music.”
[43]
Arriving at Auckland airport in New Zealand later that day, RadioLIVE New Zealand reported on airport security’s efforts to keep Bieber out of trouble. He later tweeted that somebody stole his hat and “knocked down [his] mama.”
[44] The teenage girl who stole the hat then uploaded a video to the Internet, outlining the demands of her extortion attempt.
[45] The next day, she returned the hat amid speculation of possible criminal charges.
[46]