Justin Bieber will no longer pose for pictures with fans to ‘protect his sanity’

"People who say, ''But I bought your album,'' know that you got my album and you got what you paid for… AN ALBUM!'

Justin Bieber ( Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Justin Bieber has announced he will no longer pose for photographs with fans a day after he was photographed walking around Boston barefoot and feeding squirrels.

Bieber followed a precedent recently set by Amy Schumer by declaring himself “done taking pictures”, claiming the public continues to forget that while a superstar, he is a human being too.

As one of the most famous men in the world, Bieber has amassed over 67 million followers on social media and a loyal global fanbase. But his privacy in recent months has been an issue and in October nude photographs of him taken without his knowledge were leaked online.

In a post on Instagram the singer, who appeared emotional during a performance of in Philadelphia earlier this week, said he was feeling like a zoo animal and wants “to be able to keep my sanity”.

“If you happen to see me out somewhere know that I'm not gonna take a picture. I'm done taking pictures. It has gotten to the point that people won't even say hi to me or recognise me as a human," he wrote.

“I realise people will be disappointed, but I don't owe anybody a picture. And people who say, ''But I bought your album,'' know that you got my album and you got what you paid for… AN ALBUM! It doesn't say in fine print whenever you see me you also get a photo.”

In a second post, the 22-year-old defended himself against criticism that he owed the fans who made him so successful.

“Years ago it was impossible to even take a picture at anytime not everyone was accessible to a camera now everyone has a camera phone and now it's just a different thing,“ he wrote. ”If you think setting boundaries is being a douche then I'm the biggest douche around but I think it's smart and will be the only way I last. I wanna enjoy life and not be a slave to the world and their demands of what they think I need to do!!

“I love the fact that I am able to make people happy but c'mon, if you truly were in my position you would understand how tiring it is (boo hoo Justin get over it) I'm going to keep making decisions I feel are fit for my growth and no human being will make me feel bad for it.”

Bieber’s comments about his treatment by the public echo comments made by Cara Delevingne about being treated like a zoo animal by the paparazzi.

More recently Schumer said she would not longer take pictures with fans after accusing a man of refusing to stop filming her despite her repeated requests.