PREACH IT! Justin Bieber, as grounded as he's always been

Justin Bieber is a little man with a taste for revenge on a large scale.

After some kid named Kevin Kristopik apparently hacked into the Twitter account of Bieber’s friend, Bieber retaliated, in a major way: He publicized Kristopik’s phone number. On his own Twitter account. Which -- because it’s Justin Bieber’s Twitter account -- means that Kristopik’s number went out to more than 4.5 million delirious Bieber fans.


Bieber represented Kristopik’s number as his own. The result? An estimated 26,000 texts from people hoping to connect with Bieber, he of the swooshy hair and the feverishly coached swagger -- not, you know, a 15-year-old Michigan teen named Kevin.

Bieber's revenge tweet has since been deleted. Kristopik, meanwhile, has changed his number and shut down his Twitter account.

Whole bunches of people -- probably the same yokels who think flight attendant Steven Slater is a shining champion of the oppressed -- will see Bieber’s actions as justified, an understandable attempt to defend himself and his friends from privacy violations.

Yeah, no.

When you’re a celebrity, there’s a reason you retain neck-snapping publicists and squadrons of lawyers who file their teeth into sharp points. And that reason is Kevin Kristopik. Bieber’s people could ...

... have shut down Kristopik with a single phone call. Instead, Bieber, who is 16, wanted the satisfaction of bullying some random kid out in the sticks. And that’s what he got, mostly likely without a single adult telling him that maybe that’s not the wisest way to go about using one’s power.

Kristopik, if he really did hack into an account, should be held accountable for that. But it’s Bieber who needs to be schooled in how to be a better celebrity.

Maybe Bieber’s swagger coach could offer him a few pointers. 


-- Leslie Gornstein

Photos: Justin Bieber performs in Orlando, Fla., top, on Aug. 3, 2010, and in Atlanta at the New Look Foundation's inaugural World Leadership Awards on Aug. 6, 2010. Credit: Joshua C. Cruey / Orlando Sentinel, top; Rick Diamond / Getty Images for Usher's New Look Foundation, left

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Acne treatment spokesmodel Justin Bieber puts his face on the line

Justin Bieber surprises students while one 'lucky' fan gets knocked around like a pinata on Twitter

PREACH IT! Justin Bieber — author? Really?

Justin Bieber to guest star on 'CSI' -- and the evidence points to typecasting

PREACH IT! Another post, another chance for Justin Bieber fans to get all worked up

Don't miss out on our Justin Bieber and Preach It! archives.

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Comments

[Jan V]

Both of these little boys were in the wrong, but the one who will end up paying for it is Kevin Kristopik's dad when the phone bill arrives.
JB has made some douche bag moves lately, the kind that hurt one's staying power. Someone needs to talk to him about the big picture for his career if he wants to be more of a Justin Timberlake and less of a David Cassidy.

[Selena Macazani]

The hacker shouldn't have done what he did for some concert tickets! It was pretty dumb and he was probably just thinking he would get the tickets and it would be over as opposed to thinking about the consequences. I do agree that what Justin did was a little out of line but can you blame him? He may be a celebrity but he is still a teenager and there is no doubt that any other teenager would have also done something along the lines of that too!!

[Haley]

I love Justin Bieber, but I agree with the person writing this article. He shouldn't have posted that kids number on twitter. Two wrongs do NOT make a right. I think he's letting fame get to his head. Which is sad since he such a talented performer.

[chad wallace]

What kind of 15 year old has a twitter? That's the real problem hear. Good for the Biebs

[Kristen]

I am netural in this sittuation because sure what kevin did was wrong and then what justin did was wrong to but two wrongws NEVER make a right that is all I am going to say.

[qweqweq]

Justin bieber is still a kid and a human too..not a statue that if u spit on wont move...gogogo JB.. that is sweet revenge