Justin Bieber charged with vandalism for 'racist' monkey graffiti

(UPI) -- Brazilian officials have official charged Justin Bieber with vandalism after he shared a photo of himself spray painting a monkey on a wall in Rio de Janeiro Thursday.

The 19-year-old pop star, currently on the South American leg of his world tour, was charged after a three-day hearing in which investigators interviewed Bieber's security guards, photographers who were there when the tagging took place, and police officers.

A judge will examine all the evidence and determine Bieber's fine, but he will not be arrested.

Representatives for Bieber said he had been given permission to paint on another wall, but when his staff determined the location was too dangerous.

But even if Bieber is walking away with a slap on the wrist from authorities, others aren't quite ready to forgive him for the content of his art.

The cartoon, depicting a monkey with a nose ring, earrings, a lip stud, necklace and crown, with a lolling red tongue and bulging eyes, struck some commenters as racially insensitive.