Graffiti by Justin Bieber is at the centre of a stoush between a Gold Coast hotel, which wants to keep it, and local authorities, who want it erased.
Bieber landed himself in trouble after photos and video footage showed the pop star nonchalantly spraying cartoon faces in fluorescent paint on the QT Hotel wall at Surfers Paradise early on Wednesday following his first Brisbane show.
The hotel says it gave the Canadian permission and that the council had no authority to get rid of the graffiti because it is on private property and not accessible from public land.
"He asked, and we said YES", the QT Hotel on the Gold Coast said on its Facebook page next to a picture of the colourful spray can artwork.
The hotel said in a comment on the page that "we absolutely gave approval".
The hotel reckons it's a coup to have the star paint "a piece of art in appreciation of his stay".
"This piece of art is now available to be viewed by fans of the artist and we believe that it is a wonderful addition to the colourful Gold Coast arts scene," it said.
Even so, Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says the council will order the removal of the graffiti.
"It might be on private land, but it's in prominent public view," a council spokesman told AAP.
"The mayor will be contacting our compliance officers today to have a notice issued to the hotel to clean it up."
A photo of Bieber's artistic offerings was posted on Instagram while entertainment website TMZ published a video of the incident.
Earlier, the mayor said the singer should clean up his mess.
He even suggested Bieber should perform for free at an upcoming Christmas carols event to make amends.
Mr Tate said the singer risked undermining the good work of the council in its fight against the scourge of graffiti.
"The last thing we want is to have graffiti glorified and more young people thinking it's a cool thing to do," he told AAP.
He said Bieber was welcome to use one of the council's clean-up kits to get rid of his mess.
"I know he's got beautiful eyes. I've got some goggles for him, and some gloves because I know he doesn't want to get his hands dirty," Mr Tate said.
"Just come and clean it up and we'll be happy with you," said Mr Tate.
"Alternatively come and sing at our mayoral Christmas carols on the 7th of December for an hour and I'll let you go."
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