Justin Bieber looking over the Icelandic landscape in his music video. Image: Screengrab from “Justin Bieber – I’ll Show You (Official Video)”
NEW YORK — Justin Bieber is opening up about a string of “bad decisions” that led him to go from being a beloved teen performer to “the most ridiculed, judged and hated person in the world.”
In a very personal and introspective Instagram post, the pop star examines how childhood fame led to depression, lack of responsibility, “doing pretty heavy drugs” and becoming disrespectful to women. At age 18, he had “millions in the bank” but “no skills in the real world.”
Bieber attributed his early stardom as a key part of his problem, saying he is not the first to struggle with fame or sudden wealth.
“You see I have a lot of money, clothes, cars, accolades, achievements, awards and I was unfulfilled. There is an insane amount of pressure and responsibility put on a child who’s brain, emotions, frontal lobes (decision making) aren’t developed yet,” Bieber said.
He also recounted growing up in an unstable home with young and separated parents who were going through their own phases.
“You see I didn’t grow up in a stable home. My parents were 18, separated, with no money, still young and rebellious as well,” he said.
Now 25, Bieber credited the support of friends, his Christian faith and his marriage with helping turn his life around.
He wrote: “It’s taken me years to bounce back from all of these terrible decisions, fix broken relationships, and change relationship habits.”
Bieber, who tied the knot with model Hailey Baldwin in 2018, said he is now living the “best season” of his life.
Marriage, he said, has taught him “patience, trust, commitment, kindness, humility and all of the things it looks like to be a good man.”
Bieber has also recently helped lead worship as seen in one of his recent posts which caught the attention of boxing champ and Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
“This is awesome Justin. Keep sharing Jesus,” Pacquiao wrote.
Other celebrities like Khloe Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Sean Kingston, Ed Sheeran also expressed support for Bieber by commenting on his post. /muf