The Shocking Night a Justin Bieber Look-Alike Fooled a Top Vegas Nightclub

The nightclub’s parent company confirmed that the impersonator orchestrated “an elaborate and multi-step ruse.” This surprising event took place at the XS Nightclub inside the Wynn Las Vegas hotel on August 16, 2025. What seemed like an exciting surprise appearance from pop superstar Justin Bieber quickly turned into a viral sensation—but for an unexpected reason.

Gryffin, a well-known San Francisco-born DJ and music producer, was performing his set when he was informed by staff that Justin Bieber was backstage and wanted to join him onstage for a surprise performance. According to a video posted on Gryffin’s Instagram, the communication from Bieber’s “team” was that he wanted to perform the hit song “Sorry.”

However, the Justin Bieber who appeared on stage was not the Grammy-winning artist himself but rather a highly convincing impersonator. Gryffin’s video captured the impersonator performing for several minutes, and to many, the singer “sounded like Justin Bieber.”

The DJ captioned his post with “biebergate2025”, which quickly caught fire on social media platforms, sparking both amusement and concern across the entertainment industry.

Nightclub Says Impersonator Carried Out ‘Elaborate’ Dupe

In a statement issued to USA TODAY, Wynn Las Vegas acknowledged that the impersonator successfully duped the club’s staff and security through an elaborate and multi-step ruse executed by himself and his advance team.

The statement read: “After an elaborate and multi-step ruse by him and his advance team, a Justin Bieber impersonator was granted access to the XS stage. As soon as the error was recognized, he was promptly removed from the resort and denied future entry.”

Video footage from Gryffin’s performance showed the impersonator, sporting a buzzed haircut, tattoos, and sunglasses, confidently performing the song “Sorry.” Gryffin was heard enthusiastically announcing, “Bieber in the house, y’all,” adding to the confusion of everyone present.

Moments after the performance, someone backstage informed Gryffin that the person he had just shared the stage with was not the real Justin Bieber. Gryffin responded with disbelief, saying, “No way,” to which the individual confirmed, “Swear on my life.”

Justin Bieber Impersonator Denies Trying to Dupe Club

Following the viral spread of the video, Dylan Desclos, a French Justin Bieber impersonator, publicly confirmed on social media that he was the performer on stage.

His manager, Julien Colas, provided a written statement clarifying the situation. He explained that Desclos had entered the nightclub as an impersonator and was offered the chance to perform when someone asked if he wanted to take the stage.

Colas emphasized, “We have done many performances as impersonators. What would we gain by claiming we are the real Justin Bieber? That’s not our way to work. It’s a professional job and we have no intention to hurt anyone’s reputation.”

Despite the apparent confusion and security lapse, Desclos and his team maintain they did not intend to deceive or scam the venue or the audience. They claim it was a misunderstanding stemming from his role as an impersonator.

How the Impersonator Gained Access: A Closer Look

This incident highlights some alarming security vulnerabilities at even the most prestigious venues like Wynn Las Vegas. The impersonator and his team reportedly orchestrated a multi-step ruse, suggesting that their preparation was deliberate and sophisticated.

Details remain unclear about how exactly the impersonator and his team managed to bypass standard verification processes. It appears that they exploited communication gaps between event organizers, artists’ management, and security personnel.

Such gaps may include failure to authenticate artist credentials, lack of direct contact with official representatives, and overreliance on third-party confirmations. This underscores the need for a more rigorous and secure booking process to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Impact on the Nightclub Industry and Security Measures

The XS Nightclub incident serves as a serious wake-up call for the entertainment and nightlife industries worldwide. High-profile venues that regularly host celebrities and surprise guest appearances are increasingly vulnerable to identity fraud and impersonation.

Going forward, nightclubs and event organizers must strengthen security protocols by adopting several key measures:

Implement strict identity verification for all performers and guests with stage access. Ensure direct communication and confirmation with official artist management teams prior to any surprise appearances.Train staff and security personnel to spot impersonators or suspicious behavior. Use technology-based authentication, such as digital passes or biometric scans, to control backstage entry. Conduct background checks or vetting for any third-party teams involved in artist coordination.

Such steps are critical to protecting the reputation of venues, ensuring patron safety, and maintaining trust with both performers and audiences.

The Role of Social Media in Amplifying the Incident

Social media played a pivotal role in spreading awareness of this unusual incident. Gryffin’s Instagram video alone amassed thousands of views and sparked conversations across Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

The hashtag #biebergate2025 trended as fans and critics debated the implications of the impersonator’s successful ruse. Many expressed amusement, while others raised concerns about the potential risks of such breaches, including crowd safety and reputational harm.

The rapid spread of the story illustrates how social media platforms can amplify both positive and negative aspects of live events, making it even more crucial for event organizers to maintain airtight security and verification protocols.

What This Means for Future Celebrity Events

As celebrity appearances and surprise guest performances become more frequent marketing tools, the risk of impersonation scams rises. The Justin Bieber impersonator incident at Wynn Las Vegas serves as a cautionary tale.

Venues and promoters must now reassess their authentication systems and prioritize direct artist confirmations. In a world where impersonators can mimic voice, appearance, and mannerisms with increasing accuracy, trust but verify must become the norm.

The incident also stresses the importance of real-time communication and verification during live events to avoid embarrassing or damaging situations.

Conclusion: Lessons Learned from the Bieber Impersonation Incident

The Justin Bieber impersonator who duped a major Las Vegas nightclub exposed significant weaknesses in event security and identity verification. Despite the club’s swift removal of the impersonator, this case serves as an important lesson.

Going forward, nightclubs, concert venues, and event planners need to strengthen their security protocols and implement stringent verification processes to prevent similar occurrences.

In an era where celebrity impersonators are highly skilled, maintaining vigilance, communication, and technological safeguards is essential to protect the integrity of live performances and ensure audience trust.