Justin Bieber Acknowledges Mental Health Struggles Following Paparazzi Incident
Justin Bieber’s recent comments on social media have drawn renewed attention to the singer’s mental health, following a public confrontation with paparazzi and a series of emotionally candid posts.
On June 16, Bieber shared a short message on Instagram reflecting on his current state of mind. “I know I’m broken. I know I have anger issues,” he wrote. The post came days after he was filmed in an extended verbal exchange with photographers outside Soho House in Malibu, where he appeared visibly agitated while asking for space. The 11-minute video circulated widely and sparked concern among fans and media.
In the same post, Bieber expressed frustration with the pressure to heal in public. “People keep telling me to heal… and it just keeps making me more tired and more angry,” he wrote. He added that while focusing inward has been difficult, leaning on his faith and staying connected to others, particularly through his Christian beliefs has helped.
The post struck a chord with fans, many of whom saw it as a moment of transparency rather than promotion. Bieber’s tone was unfiltered, and unlike earlier public statements, this one appeared to come without a filter or formal rollout.
That same week, Bieber shared screenshots of a private text exchange with a former friend. The messages revealed personal tension, with the other person describing his behavior as “lashing out.” Bieber responded by defending his emotional honesty, writing, “I will never suppress my emotions for someone… conflict is part of a relationship,” before telling the friend not to contact him again.
The timing of the posts is notable. The incident and his public reflections came just ahead of Father’s Day, his first since becoming a parent. Bieber and his wife, Hailey, welcomed their son, Jack Blues Bieber, in August 2024. Though Bieber didn’t reference fatherhood in his posts, the connection wasn’t lost on his audience. Across social media platforms, fans voiced concern, with many urging him to seek support and questioning the pressure placed on new parents, especially those in the public eye.
A representative for Bieber later told outlets that the singer is focused on his family and faith, and is in what they described as a “transformational phase.” They also denied rumors of substance use or crisis, emphasizing that he is continuing to grow through a period of personal transition.
This isn’t the first time Bieber has spoken publicly about his mental health. In interviews and past projects, including the 2020 YouTube docuseries Seasons, he discussed his experiences with anxiety, depression, and the long-term impact of growing up in the spotlight. He has also acknowledged that early fame brought challenges he wasn’t fully prepared to handle.
Whether the posts were a release, a signal, or something else entirely remains unclear. But they’ve opened a public conversation about emotional regulation, privacy, and the limits of vulnerability in the public eye.
