The Twitter Woes Of Justin Bieber’s Camp

What really happened? Depending on where you read it, Island Def Jam’s senior VP of sales James Roppo was either arrested for sending out Internet messages that Justin Bieber was still signing autographs at Long Island’s Roosevelt Field Mall, despite the tween riot that ensued at the shopping center on Friday, or, as Newsday and many other outlets have reported, for not posting a message online urging the crowds to disperse.

Sounds like it’s going to be a minute until the smoke clears on this one. Either way, what’s striking about this is that the charges filed by Nassau police—endangering the welfare of a child, obstruction of governmental administration, reckless endangerment and criminal nuisance—all revolve around the use (or non-use) of Twitter, and almost certainly couldn’t have been filed just a few short, less-tech-savvy years ago.

Here’s a statement Scott Leemon, attorney for label exec Roppo, released today, according to HITS Daily Double:

“The charges against James Roppo are completely unfounded and ridiculous. It’s clear that the Nassau Police Department are unfairly and unjustly scapegoating Mr. Roppo. The Roosevelt Mall and the Nassau Police were unprepared and had a complete lack of control at yesterday’s event and it is incomprehensible that they will not take responsibility. We will vigorously fight against all of these misdirected charges in court.”

At any rate, it’s business as usual for Justin Bieber. Just a few hours ago he let fans know that he’s “about to hit the stage in London at Wembley” in a message posted — guess where?