Justin Bieber's Elaborate Dubai Arrest Hoax—Here's How It Started

E! News dissects the rumor that the teen idol had run afoul of authorities in the United Arab Emirates

By Josh Grossberg May 06, 2013 9:36 PMTags
Justin BieberCourtesy of Instagram

Was Justin Bieber really wanted in Dubai?

Not to worry, Beliebers.

Reports the teen heartthrob may have ended up in trouble with the law during a tour stop in the Middle Eastern metropolis are just the product of a rumor that cropped up on the social media site Reddit.

Per the original thread, the bogus post claimed Bieber "may be getting arrested" after blowing off a police escort Sunday on his way to the concert venue in a rented white Lamborghini.

NEWS: Justin Bieber fan tries to grab singer at Dubai concert, knocks over Piano

The story goes on to say that the singer raced down the streets of Dubai at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour while running a slew of red lights before showing up two hours later to his own show.

According to the report, his youthful antics led authorities to put an APB out on Bieber for violating numerous traffic laws. It also prompted a whole lot of schadenfreude among Netizens hoping the "Believe" singer's wild behavior might locked up him in a foreign jail.

As it turns out, the post was updated with the news that Justin reached the Sevens Stadium safe and sound and the all the chatter about his impending incarceration was an apparent hoax, as evidenced by this purported YouTube video posted on Reddit of his arrival.

Bieber's rep assured us, "No one was arrested."

So it ended up being a happy Cinco de Mayo for the Biebs after all. Though his second gig in the emirate wasn't complete free of incident.

Not only did Bieber start his performance late, upsetting more than a few parents who had to take their kids to school the next day, but as E! News reported earlier, the popster had a little bit of a scare when a fan rushed the stage and knocked the piano off its platform.

Luckily, Justin and his band were just fine.

—Reporting by Sharareh Drury