Furious Justin Bieber fans meet his cut-out instead of the real thing

Los Angeles - Justin Bieber fans who forked out £1 000 (R17 200) on VIP tickets for his tour had to take pictures with a cardboard cut-out after he cancelled his meet-and-greets.

The Never Say Never hitmaker announced last week that he wouldn't be indulging in intimate backstage experiences with supporters before his Purpose World Tour gigs because they made him "drained and unhappy".

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, some fans at his Las Vegas gig at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday night were left posing for pics with a real-size cut-out of the star as a result of the singer's decision.

What's more, gossip website TMZ reports that fans who purchased VIP tickets were offered full refunds, but if they took that option they would lose their ticket for the best seats in the house, known as "the pit".

Justin announced last week on Instagram that he was axing his meet-and-greets because they leave him feeling "mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression".

Love u guys.. I'm going to be canceling my meet and greets. I enjoy meeting such incredible people but I end up feeling so drained and filled with so much of other people's spiritual energy that I end up so drained and unhappy.. Want to make people smile and happy but not at my expense and I always leave feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression .. The pressure of meeting people's expectations of what I'm supposed to be is so much for me to handle and a lot on my shoulders. Never want to disappoint but I feel I would rather give you guys the show and my albums as promised. Can't tell you how sorry I am, and wish it wasn't so hard on me.. And I want to stay in the healthy mindset I'm in to give you the best show you have ever seen ;)

A photo posted by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Mar 22, 2016 at 4:54pm PDT