Justin Bieber raised eyebrows this week after posting a 13-slide Instagram video featuring distorted filters, erratic statements about God, Alaska, rodents, and personal values. The carousel post, since deleted but obtained by TMZ, has reignited public concern over the singer's mental health and sobriety, despite repeated denials from his representatives.
The 31-year-old pop star used a filter that exaggerated his facial features and voice while recounting a teenage fishing trip. "I was over there, I was fishing on the dock. I was - must've been 17, 18, 18, 19. When I tell ya I reeled them in, Bobby, I reeled them in," Bieber said. "That's just a little thing called Alaska living."
Bieber then shifted abruptly to religious musings, stating: "G-o-d. Our boy Jesus, he's got a plan, and he works all things together for Gucci." He clarified "Gucci" as slang for "good," adding to the surreal tone of the video.
Later slides addressed themes of loyalty and conviction. "I live by two things: loyalty and conviction," Bieber said. "Now, let me tell you one thing about loyalty. I'm always there for the people that made me." He concluded with a disjointed remark: "I wanna tease ya. I wanna lima bean squeeze ya, but that ain't the dealio here."
Fans expressed confusion and concern across social media platforms. The video follows a string of public incidents that have raised questions about the artist's behavior. In recent months, Bieber has been photographed smoking marijuana at Coachella and shared an image of himself using a glass bong.
In February, a spokesperson for Bieber told TMZ that rumors about the singer's drug use and mental health were "exhausting and pitiful" and said the narratives were "committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive." The rep insisted Bieber was in a strong place emotionally, especially following the birth of his son, Jack Blues, with wife Hailey Bieber in August 2024.
Nonetheless, video footage from Coachella showed Hailey moving Bieber's 15-year-old brother Jaxon away from him as he smoked a joint. More recently, Bieber posted a photo of himself holding a joint in a custom phone case designed for his brand SKYLRK.
The singer's erratic online presence comes just days after a backlash over his Mother's Day post, in which he wrote, "Love u moms but mother's day sucks a**," widely interpreted as a slight toward Hailey, who was celebrating her first Mother's Day as a mother.
Concerns over Bieber's state of mind have also surfaced in connection to the fallout from the legal troubles surrounding Sean "Diddy" Combs. The music mogul, who played a mentor role in Bieber's early career, is currently facing numerous allegations of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.
