‘You have immense power. Use it to stop degrading women.’
Justin Bieber is one of the most talked-about people in the world, making news for everything from his relationship with Hailey Baldwin to his recent wading into the Taylor Swift Scooter Braun controversy.
This week, however he made news for all the wrong reasons as his former tour choreographer Emma Portner took to her Instagram stories to accuse him of degrading women and even underpaying her to the point where she couldn’t eat.
‘Justin Bieber, I regret working under your name,’ Emma wrote in a series of Insta Stories, addressing the singer directly. ‘I gave your universe my naive body, creativity, time, and effort. Twice. For content that you made millions off of. While I made zilch. Natta. Barely anything. Less than minimum wage for the hours I invested. I couldn’t afford to eat. I was sweeping studio floors to be able to practice my own craft. The way you degrade women is an abomination.’
Going on to talk about her personal experience, Emma, who is married to actress Ellen Page continued: ‘You continue to collaborate with overly problematic people. You religiously go to a church that does not support the LGBTQ+ community. Your company hired an out lesbian in your music video, and to choreograph some content for your purpose world tour. How do you feel about that? A lesbian, HELPING YOU, for a disrespectful amount of money, as you attend a church that goes against my existence?’
‘You have IMMENSE power, use it to STOP DEGRADING WOMEN,’ she continued before posting a series of statements in her next Instagram stories slide.
‘You can be grateful for opportunity AND still hold people accountable
‘You can be upset with your industry AND still want to be a part of it by encouraging change
‘You can be abused AND still have complex feelings towards your abuser(s)’
Justin Bieber has not yet responded.
