GOP donors were to bankroll the pop star’s fee but according to reports he spurned the offer on the advice of his manager, who supports Hillary Clinton

This week’s Democratic national convention attracted a starry roster of performers, including one of the world’s biggest pop acts, Katy Perry. Third Eye Blind, meanwhile, were the most popular band to perform during the Republican national convention last week – but they used the opportunity to lambast the GOP.

According to TMZ, the Republicans had also attempted to book Justin Bieber, by offering the star $5m to play a 45-minute set at a venue near where the convention was held.

Third Eye Blind baits Republican audience at Cleveland fundraiser Read more

The money, allegedly bankrolled by GOP donors, was to be paid “up front” before Bieber arrived – with the donors also expected to cover production expenses. The one supposed condition: that Bieber could say nothing disparaging about Republican nominee Donald Trump or the party. He was allegedly assured that the performance would not be political, and that he didn’t have to publicly endorse Trump in order to take part.

Should he have accepted the offer, it would have marked Bieber’s biggest single payday.

Sources connected with CAA, the talent agency which represents the singer, told TMZ that Bieber seriously considered the offer. His manager, Scooter Braun, is said to have suggested that Bieber display a Black Lives Matter banner while performing – an idea the GOP shot down.

In the end, Bieber reportedly turned the show down at the behest of Braun, who is an avid Hillary Clinton supporter, having hosted a fundraiser in Los Angeles that attracted Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and Tom Hanks.

TMZ also reports that Republican officials tried further to entice Bieber by claiming LeBron James would attend an event near the convention welcoming the GOP, and, like Bieber, would not be required to announce a political stand. James’s team are said to have told Braun that they would not be in Cleveland for the convention, and urged Bieber not to attend.