NOT a week goes by without another picture of Justin Bieber looking gaunt and vacant, fuelling fresh rumours about his mental and physical health among shocked fans.
But yesterday, a rep for the star spoke out with an outright denial that the 30-year-old Canadian star had been using hard drugs – and even went as far as to say he’s doing better than ever before.
Justin looked gaunt and exhausted when he was pictured earlier this month[/caption]
He was pictured at the weekend on a night out with Dave Chappelle[/caption]
Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey were pictured leaving a restaurant in Brooklyn earlier this month[/caption]
His army of fans will find their statement hard to square with his concerning appearance and what we know has been a tough year for the singer.
“Hailey and Justin have taken a bellyful of negative scrutiny and she’s putting her foot down and saying it has to stop,” a well-placed Hollywood insider told The Sun.
“That said, it hasn’t stopped her and Justin’s friends from being worried about him, and their ongoing status as a couple. The consensus is you only have to look at Justin to know that something’s off, and the worry is that it seems to be getting worse.”
Just this weekend the singer was spotted looking gaunt on a night out with comedian Dave Chapelle in Hollywood, but his camp are dismissive of health concerns.
“The recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is absolutely not true,” his rep said to TMZ, before adding that Bieber is actually “in one of the best places in his life”.
Many suspect the arrest of his former mentor P. Diddy on sex trafficking charges, last summer, played a role in triggering the once fresh-faced popstar’s apparent decline.
Others put it down to a return to the substance abuse that plagued his earlier career – and which he has spoken about openly – while rumours of trouble with wife Hailey also swirl.
According to his rep, however, Bieber is focusing his energies on “actively parenting his newborn son”, six-month-old Jack Blues, and has been spending time in the studio working on new material.
And behind the scenes, Bieber has been cutting off members of his inner circle – a sign he may be taking control after being a pawn in the music industry since he was just thirteen years old.
The rep said that the last year has been “very transformative” for Bieber, and that he “ended several close friendships and business relationships that no longer served him”.
The recent pictures of the star have sparked concerns about his mental and physical health[/caption]
“There’s no question he’s also exhausted, and as much as he loves being a first time dad all the late night diaper changing and interrupted sleep has taken a toll,” added The Sun’s insider.
“On top of that he’s been throwing himself back into his music, staying late at the recording studio, fixating over what direction to go with his big comeback.
“It should be the happiest time of his life but instead Justin’s walking around like he’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders.
They added: “For the most part, Justin and Hailey are pretty good at ignoring all the hysterical fan chatter.
“But for people to take it to the next level accuse him of being under some type of influence is on another level entirely, and it’s the big reason they’re coming out swinging with that very heavy public denial.”
Brutal axings
The apparent spiral in his health comes after he sold the rights to his entire back catalogue for £160million in 2023.
Then in June last year he fired manager Scooter Braun, in another shock move to cut himself off from his past.
It was a bold choice given Scooter was the mastermind behind the hit singles that have defined his career, including Baby, Sorry, and What Do You Mean? having discovered the singer at the age of 13.
And it seems to have been a shock for Braun, who only a few days before his firing had spoken out about the fact that Bieber was under contract until 2027.
A statement at the time from Bieber’s team said: “Scooter Braun and SB Projects are not involved in Justin’s current business or management and will not be involved moving forward.
“Justin is excited about the projects he is currently working on and is focused on what’s in front of him.”
Bieber previously defended Braun after he was slammed by many in the industry for buying the rights to Taylor Swift‘s music.
When Taylor posted a message saying she was “sad and grossed out” to see her work in the hands of a man who she claimed had bullied her “for years” Bieber accused her trying to “get sympathy” and encourage fans to “bully Scooter”.
Some have speculated that recent pictures suggest he’s returned to heavy drug use[/caption]
Bieber’s representative spoke out against rumours of drug use and claimed the singer is in “one of the best places in his life”[/caption]
In June 2024, Bieber fired longtime manager Scooter Braun[/caption]
But the row saw stars including Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato dump Scooter, with Justin the last to let go in June.
“Everything has been set up by Scooter since he was a kid,” said an insider at the time.
“Justin is older, wiser, and smarter and has started asking questions.”
The same month, Bieber fired business manager Lou Taylor and her firm TriStar.
It came after a member of Taylor’s team, Britney Spears’ former assistant Robin Greenhall, was named in a damning lawsuit against Diddy by Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones, who claimed he was sexually assaulted by the rapper.
He alleged Greenhill, who was Diddy’s accountant, oversaw payments to sex workers.
“Justin’s split with Lou was not amicable,” the source said.
“He fired her. People generally stay with their accountant for ages and Justin was only with Tri Star for two years.
“This happened in May, after the Diddy raid.”
Justin is surrounded by a lot of people that do not have his best interests at heart
an insider
Spears herself had also previously accused Greenhill of playing a part in the 13-year conservatorship she became trapped in.
Then in October 2024, it emerged Bieber was considering legal action against his former financial managers for allegedly mismanaging his money.
But the reports led to a split within his team, with some blaming the singer himself for his out-of-control spending habits – chucking millions on private jets, houses and donations to his church.
“He spends eye-watering amounts per month,” an insider told Page Six.
“At one point, he couldn’t even get a credit card. Justin is surrounded by a lot of people that do not have his best interests at heart.”
Diddy fallout
Bieber was reportedly left shaken up by the allegations made against Diddy and his subsequent arrest – having been close to the star since his teen years.
After discovering the teenager in 2008, Braun introduced him to Usher – who signed him to his record label RBMG – making him an instant star.
Before long he was hanging out with Diddy, who became a self-styled mentor, leading to concern among fans about the environment and behaviour the young star was exposed to.
In a 2009 clip with Bieber, Diddy boasts: “He’s having 48 hours with Diddy. What we’re doing, we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream – we’re gonna go full crazy.”
But over the last 18 months, the disgraced rapper has been hit with a slew of lawsuits alleging physical and sexual abuse of exes as well as forcing victims to take part in drug-fueled sex parties he called “Freak Offs.”
And in September, after two of his mansions were raided by police, the star was charged with three federal counts, including sex trafficking.
The disturbing revelations about Diddy sent Bieber’s mental health spiralling and led him to “cut himself off” from the world.
Disgraced popstar P. Diddy had a close relationship with Bieber since he was young[/caption]
Bieber has also unfollowed Usher, who introduced him to Diddy[/caption]
A source told the Sun: “Being dragged into the Diddy scandal has been a real burden, he’s elected to say nothing on the subject – for now – because it would only feed the frenzy and generate way too many headlines.
“But there’s a real worry for Justin that his relationship with Diddy will come back under the microscope eventually, and it’s been traumatic for him to wrap his head around all the charges and allegations in the meantime.
“They were once so close. Justin trusted him implicitly back when they collaborated, so of course that’s weighing heavily on his mind.”
Another source added: “Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it, so he had shut off.
“So many people who helped to make him who he is were very close to Diddy, and it has completely thrown him.”
Among those is Usher, who has been friends with Bieber since he was 13 and even serenaded the newlyweds at his wedding.
In January, Bieber unfollowed the rapper across his social media, sparking rumours of a fall-out.
He also cut off longtime collaborator Poo Bear and road manager Ryan Good, who was best man at his wedding to Hailey.
Power couple
So what’s prompting Bieber to take over the reins of his career now?
Insiders say Diddy’s arrest has prompted Bieber to take a fresh look at his inner circle and reconsider what he wants from his career – hence his decision to fire Scooter.
The couple are facing down rumours of trouble within their marriage[/caption]
Representatives claim that Bieber is busy raising is son, Jack Blues, who they welcomed in August[/caption]
Bieber’s wife Hailey has increased her involvement with his career management[/caption]
One of the forces behind these changes is his wife, Hailey, who is now said to be “talking a lot for him”.
“Hailey has taken control and is heavily involved,” a source told Page Six.
“She’s a part of meetings and she’s talking a lot for him. She’s the voice.
“They’re becoming this power couple. She’s a big part of everything he’s doing.”
The couple welcomed a son, Jack Blues, in August last year.
But the pair have for the last few months faced rumours that not all is well in their relationship – and Hailey is thought to be under a lot of pressure to keep Bieber afloat.
“Hailey is very upset, she’s the driving force behind their statement and it’s not something she’s willing to let drop,” our source reveals.
“She was equally upset when people were accusing them of having marriage problems right before she announced her pregnancy.”
Hailey is also protective of her ‘devoted’ husband as he deals with the fallout from the Diddy case.
“He seems so fragile and utterly dependent on Hailey, which is sweet and a clear sign of how devoted he is to the marriage,” an insider told The Sun.
“But some believe it would do them good to get a little space and that he’s a little too needy at times.
“It’s a lot of pressure on her, however positive she is publicly about the state of their marriage.
“Justin is clearly working through a lot of issues and Hailey is doing her best to help, but it’s hard on both of them. There’s only so much she can do.”
Diddy scandal
By Senior Reporter for the US Sun Forrest McFarland, who has been reporting on Diddy’s legal battles for years
BEFORE Sean “Diddy” Combs’ arrest in September, it was highly speculated that the rap star would find himself in custody after he was repeatedly hit with disturbing accusations – and had two of his mansions raided by the feds.
His mounting legal troubles finally came to a head on September 17, when he was charged with three federal counts, including sex trafficking, for allegedly forcing victims to take part in drug-fueled sex parties he called “Freak Offs.”
Hours before his arrest, The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed the feds investigating Combs were secretly liaising with Tupac Shakur murder prosecutors on gangland activities.
The development also came after Combs was named 77 times in documents submitted by prosecutors in the Tupac murder case.
Aside from the Tupac probe, Combs was already facing a slew of lawsuits, including one he settled with his ex, Cassie Ventura, after she accused him of rape and abuse.
Disturbing hotel surveillance video from 2016 showed Combs chasing Cassie down and then punching, kicking, and beating her in a hallway.
Two months earlier, in March 2024, two of Combs’ mansions were raided by federal investigators, who seized three AR-15s, drugs, and 1,000 bottles of lube which were part of his “Freak Off” supplies.
In addition to his federal criminal charges, Combs also faces a handful of lawsuits with allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and sex trafficking dating back to the early 1990s.
Music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed one suit in February 2024, claiming Combs forced him to hire sex workers and participate in sex acts while he worked on his latest album.
Combs has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the federal sex trafficking charges against him, but his battle is far from over.
He faces life in prison if he’s convicted on all counts.
Nonetheless, concerns over his health among fans are far from misplaced.
Bieber has previously stated he first tried drugs at 13 and relied on drugs and alcohol to self-medicate for his anxiety, going through an especially dark period between the ages of 19 and 21.
“People don’t know how serious it got,” the star revealed in an episode of the documentary series Justin Bieber: Sessions.
“It was legit crazy scary. I was waking up in the morning and the first thing I was doing was popping pills and smoking a blunt and starting my day.
“My security and stuff would come into my room at night to check my pulse,” he added.
