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by Andy Gray
A Sheppey mum said her daughter is still a “Belieber” despite the teenage star’s late, late, show last night... which left many fans in tears.
Hannah McGovern, 14, from Southsea Avenue, Minster was among 20,000 devotees desperately looking forward to seeing their hero Justin Bieber perform at London’s O2.
But they were left angry and frustrated for more than three hours for their pop idol to arrive on stage.
It meant youngsters missed out on seeing the star with many fleeing in tears before the show started to catch last trains home.
Mum Maria McGovern spent more than £200 on tickets for Hannah and school friend Lucy Palmer, 14, to see the teenage sensation as part of a Christmas present.
She said: “They feel let down, disappointed and a bit ripped-off.
“It’s not right fans should’ve been kept waiting so long on a school night.”
Mrs McGovern said there was no sign of the upset to come when her daughter texted to saying she was “screaming along with the other girls” an hour before the concert was due to start at 8.30pm.
She was then shocked to receive a text from husband Mark, the girls’ chaperone for the evening, saying it had been announced Bieber wouldn’t be going on stage until 10.35pm.
Mrs McGovern said: “Mark was furious, he was waiting in the car park and said children were leaving the O2 in tears because it meant they were going to miss their trains.
“He said there were loads of complaints and O2 staff were outside handing out contact details for the show’s promoter.”
“The concert didn’t finish until 11.35pm and the girls didn’t get home until 1.30am.
"she’s normally hyped-up and screaming after a concert, but when she got in the car she fell straight to sleep" – hannah's mum maria
“She’s normally hyped-up and screaming after a concert, but when she got in the car she fell straight to sleep.
“She was like a zombie the next morning.”
Lucy Palmer’s mum, Sue, was another angry parent, saying, “It was shocking behaviour on JB’s part.”
The reason for Bieber’s late arrival, which was greeted by boos inside the venue, remains a mystery.
O2 issued an apology on the singer’s behalf saying it was sorry “for the lateness” of the show.
Mrs McGovern said Hannah, who met the singer at VIP meet-and-greet event in London last year, had more than tears for souvenirs from the concert.
“She came home with about £40 worth of merchandise, so it’s fair to say she’s still a Justin fan.”
The globan idol today tweeted, saying he had been due to go on stage at 9.35pm, rather than the reported 8.30pm.
Because of tecnical issues he didn't go on stage until 10.10pm, he said.
He added in the tweet: "So... I was 40 min late to stage. there is no excuse for that and I apologize for anyone we upset. However it was great show and Im proud of that."