A rep for Justin Bieber is speaking out amid widespread concern for the singer’s well-being.
The representative told TMZ on Sunday, February 23, that rumors about Bieber using hard drugs are “absolutely not true,” calling the speculation “exhausting and pitiful.” Per the rep, the chatter about Bieber’s mental health “shows that despite the obvious truth, people are committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive.”
The past year has been “very transformative” for Bieber, who “ended several close friendships and business relationships that no longer served him.”
A source exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this month that Bieber, 30, is “happier than he’s been in a long time” despite raising eyebrows with his behavior and recent outings. “There’s no breakdown,” the insider added, noting that the pop star “just really doesn’t care what people think.”
Justin initially sparked concern in January when eagle-eyed fans noticed he was no longer following his wife, Hailey Bieber, on Instagram. The 28-year-old Rhode founder, however, was still following Justin. (The couple have been married since 2018 and welcomed son Jack Blues last year.)
As the alleged social media activity made headlines, Justin set the record straight via his Instagram Story. “Someone went on my account and unfollowed my wife,” he claimed. “S— is getting suss out here.”
In the weeks since, Justin has been spotted out and about in sweats — and was even spotted leaving a spa shirtless. “He’s just being himself and won’t create a squeaky clean image just because the public wants him to,” the source told Us this month.
Following his rise to fame as a teen idol, Justin has faced a few ups and downs in the spotlight. He’s spoken candidly about struggling with his mental health, revealing to Vogue in February 2019 that he “got really depressed” on his Purpose tour and used Xanax.
“Drugs put a screen between me and what I was doing. It got pretty dark,” he confessed. “I think there were times when my security was coming in late at night to check my pulse and see if I was still breathing.”
A source told Us at the time that Justin sought out a therapist, adding, “He doesn’t want to be dependent on medication. He struggles with ups and downs, anxiety, depression and uncertainty about the future.”
Hailey, meanwhile, has stood by her husband’s side. “I just wanted him to be happy and be good and be safe and feel joy,” she told Vogue. “I’m really proud of him. To do it without a program, and to stick with it without a sober coach or AA or classes — I think it’s extraordinary. He is, in ways, a walking miracle.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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