By Wonderwall.com Editors
8:15am PDT, Aug 14, 2017
Think the world is Justin Bieber's oyster? Parts of it may be, but other parts of this glorious planet are totally off limits to the scandal-prone pop star. On July 21, 2017, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture announced that the singer has been banned from performing in China due to his "bad behavior … in his private life, abroad or on stage" and for causing "public discontent" with "his inappropriate manner." But Justin's not the only star who's been banned from a country. Wonderwall.com rounded up a few more celebs who've been blocked from certain parts of the world. Keep reading to get the scoop!
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According to some reports, Angelina Jolie was blocked from entering Sudan back in 2014 when she attempted to visit the country as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations. Officials — who were under the impression that she intended to hold a press conference speaking out against the president during her visit — reportedly stopped the A-list actress at the border.
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In 2009, local Muslim groups protested what would've been Beyonce's Malaysian debut and successfully put a kibosh to her planned gig in Kuala Lumpur. According to The Hollywood Reporter, protestors urged the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage to stop the concert over the singer's "refusal to abide by the country's strict dress code for performers."
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The Chinese government reportedly banned Brad Pitt from entering the country after he starred in 1997's "Seven Years in Tibet," which they perceived as pro-Tibetan independence propaganda due to its negative depiction of China's rule over the region. The A-list actor returned to the country in 2016 after around two decades while promoting his movie "Allied."
In 2012, officials in Indonesia refused to issue a permit for Lady Gaga to perform in Jakarta after Islamic groups protested, claiming her show would be too vulgar. According to the BBC, one group called the singer a "devil's messenger" and even "threatened to try to stop [her from] getting off the plane" if she landed in the country. Yikes!
In 2014, the Dominican Republic blocked Miley Cyrus from performing in the Caribbean nation. According to the BBC, the government alleged that the singer-actress "undertakes acts that go against morals and customs, which are punishable by Dominican law."
In 2009, Alec Baldwin enraged officials in the Philippines when he joked during an appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman" that he was "thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order bride." According to Inquistr, the Philippines Immigration Commissioner released a statement saying, "By being in the bureau's blacklist, Baldwin is forbidden from entering the country as he is deemed an undesirable alien."
Practicing Tibetan Buddhist Richard Gere has been banned from China over his support of the Tibetan independence movement and friendship with the Dalai Lama. His bitter relationship with the country has even cost him acting jobs: "There are definitely movies that I can't be in because the Chinese will say, 'Not with him,'" he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017. "I recently had an episode where someone said they could not finance a film with me because it would upset the Chinese."
Back in 2010, Japanese officials in Tokyo barred Paris Hilton from entering Japan over her drug convictions in the United States. (Just days before her scheduled visit to the Land of the Rising Sun, the socialite pleaded guilty to charges of cocaine possession in Las Vegas.) According to Metro, Japanese law states that anyone convicted of drug-related offenses can be denied entry into the country.
According to BBC News, Chinese officials blocked JAY-Z from performing in Shanghai back in 2006 because his music "contains too many profane references." The show would've marked his first time performing in China.
Sacha Baron Cohen was temporarily banned from Kazakhstan after his 2006 comedy "Borat" debuted. Government officials reportedly took issue with the way the country was depicted as sexist, racist and primitive in the mockumentary. According to the BBC, the government banned sales of "Borat" DVDs and blocked users from visiting the film's website. But by 2012, Kazakhstan had changed its tune: "With the release of this film, the number of visas issued by Kazakhstan grew tenfold," said Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov. "I am grateful to 'Borat' for helping attract tourists to Kazakhstan."
Snoop Dogg has reportedly been banned from several countries. In 2012, Norway banned the rapper from entering its borders for two years after he was caught trying to sneak in eight grams of marijuana. In 2010, he was barred from playing at a music festival in The Netherlands when the mayor of The Hague and local law-enforcement officials asked festival organizers to find an artist with a more "open and friendly character." In 2007, he was blocked from entering Australia for about a year by the country's Department of Immigration and Citizenship. And from 2006 to 2010, he was banned from entering Britain after he and his entourage vandalized a duty-free shop at London's Heathrow Airport during a dispute with British Airways over whether or not Snoop's crew could hang out with him in the first class lounge.
Martha Stewart is another star who's been banned from the U.K. because of her criminal past.
Japan deported Russell Brand while he was visiting then-wife Katy Perry during her 2011 tour of the country. "It was for priors from over 10 years ago," the pop star tweeted at the time. The same year, Canada also blocked the comedian from entering the country over his criminal record.
In 2010, Sri Lanka refused to give Akon a visa to enter the country after a statue of Buddha appeared in his "Sexy Chick" music video — which also featured a bunch of scantily clad ladies dancing at a pool party. According to The Guardian, the Sri Lankan government cited "controversial video images, offensive song lyrics and strong protests coming from various cultural, religious groups and organizations in the country" as the basis for their decision. (Certain groups incited violent protests when they learned the artist planned to perform in their homeland.)
Costa Rica banned Spencer Pratt from returning to the country in 2010 after he was arrested at an airport for possession of an illegal firearm.
Britain barred Chris Brown from entering the country back in 2010 over his criminal record. In 2015, The Telegraph reported that Australia and New Zealand had also banned the controversial rapper over his conviction history.
In 2013, Mike Tyson was blocked from entering Britain due to his criminal record, which includes convictions for rape, assault, cocaine possession and DUI. According to The Guardian, under the U.K.'s strict immigration rules, "any person who has been sentenced to more than four years in prison is barred from entering the country."
Back in 2008, the United States banned Boy George from performing in the country as he awaited trial in the U.K. "At the moment, Boy George cannot come to the United States of America because he has been refused permission to enter by the USA Administration," his rep said in a statement at the time. "This is not in respect of anything he has done in the past but because he is facing a trial in November in London for something that happened in April last year." Ultimately, the singer was convicted of assaulting and falsely imprisoning a male escort. He spent four months in jail in 2009, but it wasn't until 2014 that he was finally allowed to enter America.
Though Hayden Panettiere hasn't technically been banned from entering Japan, there's been a warrant out for her arrest in the country since 2007 — the year she attempted to stop a dolphin hunt in Taiji, a small fishing village. So we doubt she'll be back any time soon!
