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What started as a sweet celebrity moment outside Nobu in New York City quickly spiraled into online controversy—but now, the fan at the center of the interaction is clearing the air.
Kristal Terrell, a TikTok user with a modest following, recently had a chance encounter with Hailey Bieber that turned unexpectedly viral. Terrell and her friends ran into the model and entrepreneur, who graciously agreed to take photos with each of them. But just as Terrell stepped up for her picture, a security guard abruptly intervened, trying to stop the interaction.
Caught off-guard and visibly frozen, Terrell was unsure how to react—but Bieber swiftly stepped in, telling the guard, “I don’t like people putting their hands on anyone,” and calmly assured him that the group was not causing harm. They then proceeded to take the photo, with no apparent tension.
The moment was partially caught on camera and later uploaded to TikTok by Terrell, who didn’t think much of it at the time—after all, she had around 1,000 followers. But as the video began circulating, especially after being reposted on X (formerly Twitter), things took a turn.
Edited versions of the clip began to spread, cropping out the part with the security guard and reframing Bieber’s comment as if it were directed at Terrell, not for her. The internet ran wild. Hashtags like #meangirl popped up, with users misinterpreting the interaction as yet another example of celebrity rudeness. “I always knew she was a mean girl,” one user wrote. Another added, “The fan wasn’t even touching her. What is she talking about?”
But that’s not what happened.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Terrell clarified that Bieber was actually defending her, not scolding her. “She was talking to the security guard, not to me,” Terrell explained. The quote that circulated—“I don’t like people putting their hands on anyone”—was not an expression of boundary-setting with fans but a clear statement against the guard’s unnecessary physical intervention.
Realizing how fast misinformation was spreading, Terrell posted a follow-up video on TikTok to correct the narrative and defend Bieber. She emphasized how context is crucial, especially when it comes to viral moments and celebrity interactions. “Even if she had been setting a boundary,” Terrell added, “she has every right to. She’s human too.”
She ended her clarification by reminding the internet that Hailey Bieber was nothing but kind and protective during the encounter—and that weaponizing out-of-context clips can do real harm.