A legion of young girls followed a tall, young man all around Sandton City Mall in Johannesburg. The young man was surrounded by fans with crowds of teenage girls screaming out “Justin” pointing their camera phones at the “star” to get a picture with the Grammy winner.
The Canadian singer-songwriter is hailed as one of the most influential artists with hit tracks like “Sorry” and “What Do You Mean?” Though his stroll through Joburg’s upscale Sandton Mall was dramatic, swarmed with fans and shielded by mall security guards, it soon leaked that it was not Justin Bieber but rather a look-alike.
A video release of the prank went online on May 16th, documenting the prank and the efforts taken to dupe the public into believing they met “The Biebs.” As Beliebers (Justin Beiber’s fans) cherished the chance encounter, the prank came as a disappointment to many.Bieber had a show in Johannesburg in the FNB Stadium on 14th May and in Cape Town on 17th May during the African leg of the Purpose Tour.