Justin Bieber has been the butt of plenty of jokes in his lifetime in the spotlight, and yes, sometimes face tattoos, recent ‘scumbro’ aesthetic, and general behaviour is just funny. He’s grown up with all eyes on him and been a source of outrage, celebration, and comedy to the point mostly dehumanising him. At only 25, the inevitable misadventures of growing up with the scrutiny of such extreme fame means we have all been privy to the ups and downs of his life.
But Bieber is showing signs of growing beyond his reputation as the poster boy for immaturity.
In a post on Instagram, JB shared a deeply personal statement about his current struggles with his mental health, calling it “the most human season I’ve ever been in facing my stuff head on.”
“Just wanted to keep you guys updated a little bit hopefully what I’m going through will resonate with you guys.” the full post reads. “Been struggling a lot. Just feeling super disconnected and weird,” Bieber captioned a photo of himself with manager Scooter Braun and Kanye West.
“I always bounce back so I’m not worried just wanted to reach out and ask for your guys to pray for me. God is faithful and ur prayers really work thanks . the most human season I’ve ever been in facing my stuff head on,” he added.
Bieber’s statement comes after news last month that he is reportedly being treated for depression, and it demonstrates a comfortable vulnerability with speaking out about personal mental health challenges. It’s a similar vulnerability that we’ve seen in social media posts from Pete Davidson, Hailey Baldwin/Bieber, and a growing number of celebrities.
It’s reassuring to hear that Justin Bieber is optimistic about his ability to ‘bounce back’, and impressive to hear his willingness to admit he’s struggling and ask for help. This is one of the most mature statements Bieber has shared and we have a lot of respect for him for sharing it.
Someone as high profile as Bieber speaking about the challenge of mental health and the importance of dealing with it head on platforms a positive message that more people, especially boys and men, need to hear.