Bieber family denial over fundraiser forces Bowmanville Zoo to refund tickets
The Bowmanville Zoo is refunding tickets to a high-priced fundraiser it said would include an appearance by Justin Bieber and his family after the singer's dad took to social media to deny the claim.
On Wednesday, the facility had posted a statement to its Facebook page, inviting patrons to "join the Bieber family in support of the animals of Bowmanville Zoo!"
The event was called "Bieber Family Fun Day." Scheduled for Sunday, the event was supposed to raise money to relocate the animals after the zoo closes.
The Facebook post said that the Bieber family would be in attendance, as well as possibly "other mystery guests."
Tickets to the event were available through the zoo's website for $295 each.
On Wednesday afternoon, Bieber's father, Jeremy, tweeted that his family was not involved with the zoo or the fundraiser.
Not long after, the event notice and ticket sales page were removed from the site, and the Facebook post was deleted.
A statement posted to the zoo's Facebook page at 7 p.m. ET said the fundraiser is still on, but the Bieber family won't be attending.
"We had invited many celebrities including the Bieber family. None of the celebrities invited have any association with the zoo nor are they hosting this event - anyone who attends our fundraising event, celebrity or not, is a guest of the zoo," the statement read.
"We have now been informed by the Bieber family that they are no longer attending this event."
The statement went on to blame the turn of events on "negative spin and attacks from PETA supporters and some media outlets."
The statement held out hope that the Bieber family or other invited guests would still attend, "though there are no guarantees at this time."
After a number of patrons demanded answers, and refunds, a comment from the zoo at 7:42 p.m. ET said that "all tickets sold today have already been fully refunded."
'An awesome opportunity'
Dina Giraldi, a Whitby mother who bought three tickets at a cost of $999, said she and her family are huge Beliebers and have "paid big dollars" to see the singer perform in concert.
"So it just seemed like an awesome opportunity considering I'm in Whitby and Bowmanville Zoo is 20 minutes away," Giraldi told CBC News on Wednesday evening.
She said she was happy to help the zoo raise funds to relocate the animals, but would never have donated $1,000 to the cause.
"That would be something to donate your money to," she said. "But when they claim that a celebrity is going to be there, you're going to pay that money."
She had planned to take her 13-year-old daughter — who has a broken arm — and a friend to the event, and had hoped that Bieber would sign her daughter's cast.
She emailed the zoo earlier Wednesday afternoon asking about a refund, but had not received a response or a notification, she said.
She said she felt "disappointed and let down" and accused the zoo of using the Bieber name to sell tickets.
The zoo did not respond to accusations from patrons to its Facebook page that it was a marketing ploy, nor did a spokesperson from the facility respond to calls and emails from CBC News seeking comment.
This is not the first time that the Bieber name has been mixed up with the Bowmanville Zoo.
Last month, Toronto Animal Services sent Bieber a notice of violation following two complaints that he had "exhibited" lions.
The complaints related to Bieber being seen with a white lion cub and with a juvenile lion, the agency said.
The agency said it received information that the lions came from the Bowmanville Zoo, and issued a letter "seeking compliance" with city bylaws that state no person can keep a prohibited animal, such as a lion or tiger, in the city, either on a permanent or temporary basis.
In photos posted online, Bieber was seen with a white lion cub during an engagement party for his father last April, and holding a young lion at a Toronto concert in the spring. PETA, the animal rights group, filed the complaints after seeing the photos.
Zoo owner stepped down following charges
In its advertising for Sunday's fundraiser, the zoo posted a statement to its website stating: "Over the last few months, Justin Bieber and his family have met some of our amazing animals."
The zoo is slated to close at the end of the 2016 season due to what a spokesman last month called "catastrophically" reduced attendance that has left the facility with little money to operate.
The zoo came under fire back in December 2015 after PETA released a video that appeared to show the owner of the zoo, Michael Hackenberger, whipping a tiger.
Hackenberger was charged with animal cruelty, but he denied the allegations and vowed to fight the charges.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals began investigating last December, and revealed the charges against Hackenberger in April.
He stepped down after he was charged.
The private zoo opened in 1919, and is currently home to more than 300 animals.
