Justin Bieber Caught in Ground Zero Mosque Hoax

Foes launch boycott over fake interview
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 30, 2010 5:28 PM CST
Justin Bieber Caught in Ground Zero Mosque Hoax
Justin Bieber attends the Z100 Jingle Ball concert at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Dec. 10.   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

These things happen when you're a teen idol in the Internet age: After the satirical site Celebjihad ran a fake story saying Justin Bieber thinks those opposed to a Ground Zero mosque are bigots, the tale began spreading like wild on the web. Foes started a boycott Bieber page on Facebook, and one of the most vocal opponents of the mosque began giving interviews about how his own kids are forbidden to listen to Bieber's music. Salon uncovered the whole mess when it went searching for the original interview, supposedly in Tiger Beat.

When it didn't turn up, reporter Justin Elliott contacted the proprietor of Celebjihad, who confirmed the hoax. "That some people take it seriously is hilariously depressing," he said. Sample quotes from the Bieber "interview": “Coming from Canada, I’m not used to this level of intolerance, eh.” And: “I was like seven when September 11th went down, and frankly I’m surprised people are still going on about it. Move on, already!” Click here for more.
(More Justin Bieber stories.)

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