Justin Bieber joined a popular DJ onstage and performed at a Las Vegas nightclub. Except that he didn't.
Gryffin, a San Francisco-born DJ and music producer, was performing at the XS Nightclub inside the Wynn Las Vegas hotel on Aug. 16 when he was told that Bieber was at the venue and wanted to perform, he said in a video posted on his Instagram.
"His 'team' said he wanted to perform 'Sorry,'" a text overlay on the video read. "Little did I know I was about to be sorry."
The Bieber on stage with Gryffin was not the Grammy award-winning singer, but rather an impersonator. The DJ's video added that the look-alike performed on stage for several minutes and "sounded like Justin Bieber."
"biebergate2025," the DJ captioned his post.
Nightclub says impersonator carried out 'elaborate' dupe
Wynn Las Vegas said in a statement to USA TODAY that the impersonator duped the club's staff.
"After an elaborate and multi-step ruse by him and his advance team, a Justin Bieber impersonator was granted access to the XS stage," the statement reads. "As soon as the error was recognized, he was removed from the resort and denied future entry."
In Gryffin's video, a man with a buzzed haircut, tattoos and sunglasses is seen performing Bieber's hit song, "Sorry."
"Bieber in the house, y'all," Gryffin says into a microphone.
Following the performance, the video shows Gryffin saying, "That was insane," before someone puts their arm around him and breaks the news that the singer on stage was not the real Bieber.
"No way," Gryffin says, to which the individual responds, "Swear on my life."
Justin Bieber impersonator denies trying to dupe club
In a series of social media posts, a French Justin Bieber impersonator named Dylan Desclos confirmed that he was the onstage performer.
Desclos's manager, Julien Colas, said in a written statement to USA TODAY that he went to the club as an impersonator and someone asked if he would like to perform.
"We did many performance as impersonator," Colas said. "What have we to won by saying we are the real one? That's not our way to work. Cause, yes, it's a job. We don't want to hurt anyone."
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justin Bieber impersonator dupes Las Vegas nightclub, sings on stage
Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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