Justin Bieber: Being a child star is ‘the toughest thing in the world’

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber covers the new issue of Billboard, and he takes the journalist to church – literally. At least he doesn’t make weird taco metaphors in the interview, but the message is clear. Justin Bieber has “found redemption,” so I suppose this discussion happened before he had another meltdown last week, which included walking out of a concert, ditching an interview and lecturing fans on how to clap. He’s such a mess, and his cycle is predictable. He does dumb stuff, and then he prays in public to make himself seem like a good person.

In this interview, something hilarious happens. Swaggy defends his dad, who thought his beach photos were a proud moment. At the time, Bette Midler called out Jeremy Bieber as a deadbeat dad, and Swaggy has no idea who she is. He tries to shade her but ends up calling her “this Britt Meddler,” then he admits, “I don’t even know who that is, honestly.” Fail. Some more excerpts:

His tough existence and Kylie Jenner: “I wouldn’t suggest being a child star. It’s the toughest thing in the world. I want people to be more kind to young celebrities. Like Kylie [Jenner]. Look at her world: She has been living on TV since she was a kid. Every time she’s looking around she sees a camera, and that’s affecting how she’s thinking and how she’s perceiving people and why she has to do certain things … Situations that happen taint your mind, especially in this industry. Especially for girls … Everything is so [based] on people’s looks and stuff … Look at the statistics on how many child stars have crumbled and turned out to be wack jobs. It’s because — it’s f—ed, bro, this lifestyle.”

On Selena Gomez: “I’m proud of the woman she is today/ When you love someone that much, even if something comes between you, it’s a love that never really dies. I know I had a lot of play in that one. I don’t know what she’s saying about me.”

His ongoing meltdown: “It might seem awesome from the outside, but I’m struggling. Certain things broke my trust with people. Situations happen that taint your mind. I started going through the motions. I felt like people were judging me all the time. I came out alive. I came out swinging. But I was close to letting [fame] completely destroy me. Empty. Lost. Like I didn’t know myself.” And what went through his head: “You’re not good enough. People hate you. You try too hard.”

[From Billboard]

Oh, Swaggy. See, when he brings up Kylie Jenner, I kind of see what he’s saying. She grew up in a superficial reality show family. She looks nothing like she used to because she was taught that “natural” is bad, and plastic surgery is normal. Kylie copes by posing for selfies during all waking hours. We haven’t seen Kylie get into trouble like Bieber yet, so I do feel sympathy for her. She’s vacuous but knows nothing else.

As opposed to Kylie, Bieber is a walking misdemeanor. He defaces property and does dumb things like drag race down the street. I do feel sympathy for him when he says he had no choice in being a child star, but has his life been “the toughest thing in the world“? When compared to a child enduring abuse or starving on the streets, no. Absolutely not. Swaggy lacks perspective.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber

Photos courtesy of Billboard & WENN

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109 Responses to “Justin Bieber: Being a child star is ‘the toughest thing in the world’”

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  1. Sara says:

    His parents did not protect him from what he thought he wanted as a child. It’s like parents i know who take their kids to auditions “But they want to act! I’m not forcing them!” I believe them, but as a parent you’re not supposed to pander to your children’s whims. In France children cannot touch the money they earn until 18, and in some ways it discourages people like Macauley Culkin’s father or Drew Barrymore’s mother fom exploiting their children financially.

    The truth is that a lot of money (and the hangers-on) and little education is a terrible combination.

    • Livealot says:

      x1000

    • Cindy says:

      Absolutely agree. The majority of parents with famous children exploit and fail to protect them. The really sad thing is at this point I think it’s too late for Bieber to ever really change.

      • Sara says:

        Also to other comments saying he has no perspective and that forced labour and sexual abuse are worse than being a child star; I would argue that many child stars are made to work by adults sometimes to unhealthy lengths, and we all know that children in Hollywood are often the victims of sexual predators. So…

      • swack says:

        It’s never too late to change. He wants to really change to have it happen. His bad behavior keeps him in the news.

      • Cindy says:

        @Sara
        Corey Aimes, Mckauly Culkin, River Phoenix, Dana Plato, etc etc. All dead, or in the case of Culkin, well……..

        Hollywood treats kids like garbage unless the parents step in and prevent it.

    • kdubs says:

      he was raised by a single mom, unfortunately his dad was not in the picture until recently because duh, $$$

      • Suzy from Ontario says:

        And his Dad, from what I’ve seen, is just like one of the hangers-on…loves to party and I don’t think he’s a great influence on his son in terms of boundaries or responsibility. More like a fratboy-pal relationship.

        I think Justin could still mature and change for the better. I think he has a lot of growing up to do, but it can happen. Look at Angelina Jolie. She was pretty wild for a lot of years and has now matured into a really strong and caring woman. I think it will depend a lot on whether or not he meets the right people in the next few years, both male and female. A strong male figure who is a good mentor can change a lot of young male minds, and a woman that he falls for who refuses to bother with someone so irresponsible and reckless… it will depend on a lot of things. Maybe he’ll get tired of all the parties and having everything he wants and decide he missed out on going to university and other more “normal” things and take some time off to do that. Who knows. It could happen. I have heard his Mom is a good person, although I don’t know much about her.

    • Wren says:

      As much as I dislike him, I do really feel bad for him. For all his good fortune, he’s had a lot of people who’ve failed him along the way and that’s not easy for anyone. He doesn’t appear to have good coping skills either, which makes everything worse.

    • anon says:

      Parents cannot take the majority of the money their children make, but they can take a percentage for being their “manager”.

    • Reale says:

      Agree. A child should not be exploited by adults to make a buck. His mother pushed him into this business. He seems confused and is trying to adapt.

  2. NewWester says:

    Kylie Jenner, on some levels I agree with what Justin said( I can’t believe I am writing this) but who allowed Kylie to be on the reality show? Her parents Kris and Caitlyn Jenner could have easily put their foot down and forbid Kylie and Kendall from being on television until they were older. Given them a chance to have some sort of normal life and able to choose if this was a life for them.
    As for Justin not knowing who Bette Midler is, one
    word “Google”

    • jwoolman says:

      The poor child doesn’t realize that Bette Midler is a lot more famous than he is and for a lot more decades. In order to google, one must first know how to read. Does he?

      • NewWester says:

        He probably thinks Google is a mixture of ginger ale and cough syrup that he can get high with

    • Tiffany :) says:

      “who allowed Kylie to be on the reality show?”

      I think in the first episode she and her sister were like 11 years old and swinging upside down on Kris Jenner’s bedroom stripper pole. Very sad that the parents were ready to exploit from episode/day 1.

    • Mixtape says:

      Yes! While I agree with those who point out there are “worse” lives to be had, I think he raises some valid points that should not be ignored simply because he stated them in such a dramatic fashion. The worst childhoods are those in which you are not allowed to be a child because you have adult worries like feeding yourself or your family or engaging in adult behavior (e.g., substance abuse and sex). In this way, being a child star is very much like living in 3rd world poverty, dealing with sexual abuse, or the other “worst” lives people are discussing here, even if it pays better. The irony is that being too mature of a kid results in being an immature adult because you did all your growing up too soon.

  3. Div says:

    Bieber irritates me but I don’t think he’s means it in a literal sense—he’s being hyperbolic. He still seems like a mess, but he seems sober and like he’s pulled it together somewhat even if he is messy. I also think he makes some valid points about child stardom. Also, Bette Midler was on point and his response to her was beyond ridiculous. If he truly had it together, he would have just said something like “I don’t want to discuss that” and changed the topic.

  4. Zip says:

    Just because someone has a harder life one is not allowed to feel bad about themselves anymore? Of course, (I guess you mean physical) abuse or starvation are really bad. However, this does not mean that the Biebs is not allowed to feel regret over his time being a child star. This is what he knows and what he can relate to. It completely f*cked him up psycologically. Look at him, he is stinking rich but he is lacking everything that money can’t buy. This does not excuse the crap he’s doing but it explains a lot.

    Uh, I can’t believe I just defended the Bieber.

    • nicole says:

      I agree. In a way he’s not as bad as he could have turned out given the recipe for egomania his life has been.

      The “worst thing in the world” was obviously hyperbole. If someone reported on my every word I’m sure I’d also include a lot of hyperbole when taken out of context/tone or taken at face value I’d sound like a terrible person too.

    • NerdMomma says:

      But he has a choice now. He can retire this life at any time. From recent stories, it doesn’t seem like he loves music or loves performing. He can easily transition to something else, with all of his resources. He acts like the world needs him to do this.

      • Sabrine says:

        His first world problems. Doesn’t looking at his bank balance give him some solace?

      • perplexed says:

        Maybe he feels other people depend on him, like Britney does. I assume people must be pressuring him to keep the money rolling in.

    • K says:

      Of course he can but seriously have perspective, to say there is nothing worse? That is just offensive. We have all had things that have been hard and a struggle serious issues in life but when we look at the grand scheme we know we’re lucky. We can say this has been the hardest thing we’ve ever gone through but to never acknowledge how lucky we are, would be disengenuous.

      Peoples problem with him is he has this sense of entitlement like he can do anything he wants and only his wants, needs and feelings matter and sorry but it’s not true.

      • Loulou says:

        Yep. Perspective: you need it, Beibs.

      • Ughhhhhh says:

        But that’s the point. He doesn’t have any kind of healthy perspective on his situation, because of child stardom. He is entitled because of child stardom. His assholery did not happen in a vacuum.

    • Wren says:

      I agree. I’m really tired of the “other people have it worse so suck it up” mentality. Someone else somewhere ALWAYS has it worse. Always. Playing that game gets you nowhere. It’s a sanctimonious and self-righteous way of dismissing someone’s feelings and personal experiences. Is being a child star the worst thing in the world? No, of course not but people make statements like that all the time. Saying something is “the worst” is for emphasis, not because you logically believe that it actually IS the worst thing ever. C’mon, we all know this and use language like that all the time.

      He seems to be realizing just how empty his life is, and that sucks. I don’t like him, his attitude or his actions, but even though he’s had so much handed to him (that many covet for themselves), life hasn’t been easy in other areas. He’s allowed to have thoughts and feelings about that.

      • crtb says:

        Thank you Wren. We all knew what he meant. It wasn’t supposed to be taken literally. We all have use that expression or similar expressions. I am so sick of people getting so out of shape when someone doesn’t word their conversation as well as you think they could have.

      • I Choose Me says:

        Agree. Never thought I’d say this but I feel for him a little bit. Reading his interview, he seems so lonely and empty inside. Sure he lacks perspective but that’s kind of the point. Child stardom usually does not allow the kind of perspective people think he should have.

      • cd3 says:

        Your post summed this up perfectly. We all are guilty of talking like that: “I’m going to die if I don’t eat right now!” “This rainy weather makes me want to kill myself” “I’m seriously going to kill someone if I have to sit in this traffic any longer.” Obviously, this is not meant literally just as his phrasing wasn’t.

        I do sympathize for him. Not to sound patronizing, but he really is just a kid. I for one and happy to have grown up away from social media… let alone celebrity.

    • Suzy from Ontario says:

      Good post Zip!

  5. Tate says:

    That cover in the top pic is ridiculous looking.

  6. Rice says:

    Re Selena: “I know I had a lot of play in that one. ” Um… Que?

    • Spritzer says:

      Meaning a lot of their problems were his fault.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      That comment made me say “what?!” too. 😉

    • YvesWestwood says:

      This is poorly taken out of context. “that one” was referring to her new album. The interview asked if he had heard it and that’s when he made the “I had a lot of play in that one.” He’s not saying Selena is “that one.”

  7. Longhairdontcare says:

    I have 100% sympathy for child stars. Not saying he isnt a douche bag. But when youre given that much money, that many screaming girls worshipping you and people waiting at your every beck and call to please you, yes it can fuck you up. Add in inexperienced parents and his history makes perfect sense. I dont think hell ever not be full of himself but hopefully he can mature and feel responsibility for his mistakes.

    • Santia says:

      I feel bad for him, too. He seems to be trying to be self-aware, but is repeatedly failing. He knows something is “wrong” but doesn’t know how to fix it. Maybe he should go back to Canada for a minute and just chill. Come back when he has grown up a bit.

    • swack says:

      The way it is looking at this point – walking out on a performance because someone wouldn’t follow his command – doesn’t look like he will be accepting responsibility any time soon. JMO

  8. Shambles says:

    The fact that he doesn’t know who Bette Middler is means he hasn’t even seen Hocus Pocus, which indicates that there is no hope for him.

    I do understand what he’s saying about the perils of child stardom, but he’s wallowing. He’s choosing to live in the negative, and it’s very obvious. That’s not healthy, and he might be a little depressed. I hope he gets whatever help he needs so that he can choose to see all the positive in his life instead.

    • Nicolette says:

      LOL I was going to say the same. Has he not seen Hocus Pocus? The Sanderson sisters would be mortified. Agree, there is no hope.

      And yes he does have a point about child stardom but with his constant whining it’s a bit hard to take him seriously. I think he’s struggling with the fact he’s getting older and isn’t the tween sensation anymore. He’s going to have to figure out the path he chooses to take from here on out.

    • swack says:

      My three year old granddaughter is obsessed with “Pocus Pocus” (what she calls it). In fact it’s on right now!!!

    • byland says:

      That movie is just so infinitly quotable that for the first time in my life I pity Justin Beiber. That’s not something I ever thought would happen, honestly.

      I reference movies quite a lot to begin with and although Hocus Pocus makes it way into my life year round to begin with, watching the movie this Halloween season made me realize how so many of them are relatable to a (very, very) pregnant woman, so it’s been popping up like crazy the last week and a half or so. “This is terribly uncomfortable,” “Oh look, another glorious morning . . . makes me sick!”, and “You know I’ve always wanted a child – and now I think I’ll have one . . . on toast!” are the ones that really stick out at me right now.

      One of my best friends as a child was named Whitney and something of a scatterbrain so we used to chant “Remember, Whitney, remember!” quite often, so quoting it’s kind of a long-standing tradition at this point. I recall loving “Amok, amok, amok, amok, amok . . .” like crazy, as well. Amok is just a great word, period, really – and I LOVE words. I’m also guiltly of asking “what took thee so long?” more than I should all year round. It’s ingrained in my memory, like the Hand Jive from Grease (and, shamefully, every bit of dialogue from Grease, as well).

  9. BendyWindy says:

    Don’t they say you stop maturing at the age at which you achieve stardom? So, mentally he’s probably 11? He’s in for a really rough time.

    • Snazzy says:

      I was actually wondering about that. He really sounds like an entitled little 11 year old trying to be a big man, doesn’t he? I just can’t with this kid

  10. lucy2 says:

    There’s no doubt that child stardom is a difficult thing, and even more so when the parents are bad. But this guy has no respect for anyone or anything, and treats everyone poorly, and there’s no excuse for that.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      I agree. He’s an adult now. We all know adults who came from horrific childhoods and became nice people. The kind of people who don’t pee in a kitchen worker’s bucket.

      • lucy2 says:

        Or vandalize neighbors’ homes for no reason. Or endanger people with insane driving. Or yell at fans and storm off stage for no reason.
        He was enjoying all that until the bad behavior got reported and the public adoration stopped.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        Exactly. No matter what his upbringing, he is past the age where he can reflect on that and make choices to correct it. If you want your life to be more meaningful, you have the ability to make it so.

    • Chloe says:

      Agreed. And child stardom is “the toughest thing in the world?” Come on, Junior. I don’t doubt it’s difficult, and the parents are mostly to blame for allowing it to happen and Bieber to become…Bieber, but there are SO many things tougher in this world. Children/people suffering illnesses, abuse, poverty, bullying…the list goes on. He’s not a child anymore, and as such chooses his own route.

    • claire says:

      I feel certain that one of his next downfall moments will be someone releasing a tape where he goes off about his fans and talks about how much he hates them. His recent issues have been all about showing disdain for them – he wants to be hard and mature, his fan base is still teenyboppers and he hates it.

  11. Comity says:

    He’s absolutely right. No child in a refugee camp, human trafficking situation or alcoholic home would trade places with him. He is a truly tragic figure. I’m going to cry all day about this.

  12. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    I think having a drug addicted mother and living in your car and finding food out of the dumpster might be almost as bad as being a child star. Almost, but not quite.

    I’m sorry, I know there are lots of difficulties with being a child star. And more important things than money. Maybe it should be illegal to consent to working full time as child. They really aren’t mature enough to know what they’re getting into, and so maybe they should not be allowed to consent to doing more than a limited amount until they are 18. It does screw them up.

  13. AmyB says:

    Being a child star is undoubtedly psychologically damaging. There is a barrage of evidence to support that: Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, LeAnn Rimes, and others who have been lost to drugs/addiction and suicide. However, there are other things that are just as, if not more difficult: poverty, disease, mental illness, physical abuse, rape etc. Hearing Justin Bieber act like his plight is “the toughest thing in the world”….sorry disagree on that one! I concur that reeks of a lack of perspective.

    • Sara says:

      I get what you (and others) are saying, but I think being a child star exposes you to physical abuse, rape, drugs, etc. Corey Feldman talked about the pedophiliac ring that groomed him as a teenager for example. We don’t know what Bieber might have gone through.

      • AmyB says:

        Difference is that they (child stars) probably have plenty of money to walk away from the business that purportedly is so psychologically damaging. He can choose to change his path and get help for the damage that was done. Many others do not have the same resources that he (and other child stars) do. That’s my point I guess. I agree that the business can be psychologically damaging to these kids, and the results are usually very ugly. I just take serious offense that being a child star is “the toughest thing in the world”….there are other WAY worse things, as others have pointed out.

      • Jenna says:

        I hate defending the guy, but he’s being deliberately hyperbolic, you shouldn’t take it so seriously.

        And, I don’t know, “just walk away from it” isn’t great advice to kids exposed to the Hollywood machine. Most of them are psychologically damaged, and I imagine many are sexually abused.

        Just imagine having all of your success and the whole world worshipping you at 15 and then have it all go away at, say, 22. It’s the complete inverse of what most people experience, amplified to an insane degree because of fame.

        I can name very few famous child stars who didn’t either die, go completely off the rails, or have addiction problems during their transition to adulthood.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        “I can name very few famous child stars who didn’t either die…”

        But the reason you know the names of the tragedies is because they were tragedies. There are a lot of child stars who simply grew up and moved on to other things without drama. There have been thousands of child stars over recent decades and the percentage that really go off the rails isn’t as large as it may seem.

      • AmyB says:

        Yes @Tiffany I agree. There are other child actors who go on to live other lives and do not become a tragedy. Look at Angelina Jolie as an example…..there was a time when everyone thought she was a freight train running into disaster (heroin addiction, self-cutting admissions, bi-sexual). She grew up and found a different focus in life. It can happen, and these people have millions of dollars at their disposal that the impoverished do NOT. They can get HELP and choose something different.

    • swack says:

      While being a child star did not help Britney, she truly has mental issues. Being a child star just made them worse.

  14. vauvert says:

    I call BS on his self pity party. Think of all the child stars in Harry potter. Think of the young actor who played Joffrey in GoT. Think of the kids on Mad men. I watch Once Upon a Time and the young actor playing one of the main characters has been on the show for 5 years, and he was acting before. They have tutors on site, they have a strong support network and I assume families who ensure that the kids don’t go off the rails. So yes, a big part of the responsibility rests with Bieber’s parents for failing him.
    But he is at least legally an adult now. He could choose to take a break, dump the entourage, go back to school and stop his antics. He could go back to his hometown and leave a normal life for as long as he wants, and if he decides in five years that he actually wants to sing and perform he could absolutely go back.
    But the truth is that he is spoiled, entitled, superficial and so not self aware it boggles the mind. Of all the things he could choose to do he is the one choosing to pee in buckets, egg houses, drag race, post selfies in his underwear with the girl of the night and so on.
    Go away Biebs and spare us your faux philosophy.

    • notsoanonymous says:

      Do you think there would be difference between being an actor and being a (cough cough, sorry, I have to type this…) musician? As an entertainer, you’re standing on a stage getting the immediate gratification and adoration. I would think children who strictly act wouldn’t be quite as exposed to that level of fan love and insanity.

      I’m not a fan of Biebs. Can’t stand his actions or what he is trying to play out right now. I just have to wonder if the difference with him was the millions of little girls clamoring for him.

  15. perplexed says:

    To be fair, he didn’t say he specifically had the toughest life ever. He said being a child star is the toughest thing in the world, which I took to mean that anybody’s life in the spotlight could be perceived as a difficult think to work out, both work-wise and psychologically. In context, he didn’t seem to say only his life was difficult — and he did use Kylie as an example. She has a lot of money, but I don’t think most of us would want to be her.

    Maybe he should have said that being a child star can be the toughest thing in the world if you have stupid parents. This seems to be the common denominator among the child stars who get screwed up.

  16. K says:

    Yep being a child star is the hardest thing in the world… Much harder then being homeless, starving, forced into being a child soldier, sexually and physically abused.

    Yep poor little Beiber no one has suffered like him. And yes I get this was hyerbole but this boy needs perspective and a bit of gratitude for how truly blessed he is because as difficult as child stardom is, it could be worse

  17. Saywhatwhen says:

    But I want to feel for him when I read this. But I keep thinking now that you seem to be in the know why are you still so rubbish. Maybe he is still awakening. I hold out hope for you Justin. Good luck.

  18. My two cents says:

    Many people when describing something will say “this was the worst possible” thing. It’s an expression. I have always felt for him for what he was thrown into. He will never have a normal life and the industry chewed him up and spit him out. His formative years were spent in an adult world as a money making machine. Sure things could have been far worse but perception is reality and reality is perception.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      The fact that he can live in the world we live in, where children starve to death, are beaten, sold to the sex industry, or neglected and say with a straight face that being a child star “is the toughest thing in the world” speaks volumes about his privileged perspective. Of course you can complain about your own problems when there are worse problems. But that’s not what he did. He stated that is was the toughest thing in the world. He’s spoiled, insensitive and ignorant and can’t see that anyone else has feelings different from his own. That’s why he behaves the way he does. People can have compassion for his childhood without excusing his adult behavior. A lot of people with a lot tougher lives than his don’t act like spoiled brats for the rest of their lives.

      • AmyB says:

        I agree 100% with you @GNAT…..that comment shows a lack of true perspective on real world problems! It kind of reminds me of when celebrities complain that the harassment of the paparazzi (which I think is horrible) is like RAPE. Come on people, get a little perspective before you insert your foot into your mouth lol!

      • blogdiz says:

        @GNAT
        Exactly !

    • swack says:

      I have to disagree with you when you state: “He will never have a normal life . . .” He could truly have a normal life if he chooses to do so. There are many actors/actresses that have gone on after they are done in the industry to live normal lives. He chooses to stay in the limelight.

  19. Eleonor says:

    I can’t believe I am saying this, but he is right about Kylie.
    Her parents should have protected her.

  20. Lou says:

    I just can’t bring myself to hate Justin Bieber even though he acts like a pinhead sometimes. How can anybody deal with that level of adulation, pressure, detachment from reality and not be a bit messed up? At least he is acknowledging it and i actually think Justin is a good kid.

    And honestly, with the level of mockery her receives no wonder his confidence is affected.

    And yes, it is harder for female celebs!

  21. Harryg says:

    No it’s not. GO AWAY.

  22. word says:

    The toughest thing in the world eh? Go ask a kid born in poverty in some 3rd world country if that statement is true Justin. Shut the eff up ! You brought on your own problems ! I do have to say, I really like his new music though. I just have to separate his personal character from his music, which is hard to do.

  23. blogdiz says:

    i think being a child star is tough, adults cant even adjust properly to fame /being surrounded by yes men much less children . The entertainment biz is also rampant with predators and groomers of all sorts the two Coreys, some guys in boy bands have alluded to this , I suspect in some cases the complaining about Stage mothers is to alienate the mother so that they can have the child totally under their influence
    That being said for Beiber to say its the worst thing in the world still shows a lack id awareness of the world around him and being extreme self centered
    Yep I have some sympathy for him but statements like that don’t make it easy

  24. Lauren says:

    “When compared to a child enduring abuse …. Absolutely not. Swaggy lacks perspective.”

    Are these things mutually exclusive? I mean the child abuse part? Because Michael Jackson/ all the Jacksons would disagree as would both the Cory’s etc.

    Look, I know Justin is an adult now and it is so easy to say he should ‘pull himself up by the bootstraps’ but let me just say that it takes a lot of hard work.

    I am fricking 25 years old and I am still having mental breakdowns and bouts of depression over the mental and physical abuse I suffered as a child. I still struggle every day with my eating disorder and my negative sense of self. I still haven’t gotten the hang of things but I am always working towards trying to get better and that includes medication and therapy.

    It looks like he is just beginning on his journey of hard work. And he is bound to mess up and regress a few times before it finally hits that he has to make some damn changes and get real about life.

    I think he is/was abused by his family and people in the industry. Not necessarily from a physical stand point or sexual, but definitely psychological and I think that cannot be dismissed. His parents especially that loser father just see him as a money machine. I can imagine his father dangles a better life for Justin’s younger siblings over his head constantly as well. From what I have seen on that man’s instagram he is not a good influence/ seems like a manipulator of his children and partners.

    • Ughhhhhh says:

      I agree Lauren. There may have been sexual abuse that he hasn’t Identified yet as well. Happens to a lot of young teen boys who are abused – they frame it as evidence of their manliness. It’s also worth remembering that he grew up in poverty with a single teen mom. There’s a lot he’s had to deal with and its good he’s starting to process it.

  25. Jen says:

    Ya Bieber…tell us ALL ABOUT YOUR HARD, HARD CHILDHOOD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDZo3eIaaks Shut up, already.

  26. Jayna says:

    edit. delete. I misread what he was saying.

  27. mkyarwood says:

    This can be true, but it’s because it can cross-sect with abuse and exploitation. I’ll never, ever erase the ‘blind’ item about and under double digits celebrity mess, locked in the back of a car by her parents until she co operated for an agent audition. My guess is Lindsay Lohan, widely considered ‘the worst’. I think child star fallout is one of the shittier side effects of a confused concept of ‘freedom’. People are ‘free’ to raise their children as they will, right?

  28. WinnieCoopersMom says:

    Spoken like someone who never wants to accept any responsibility for their actions and making a choice everyday to be an immature “victim.” Yes it was probably super difficult, but grow up and fire all the toxic people on your team who are adding fuel to this fire. Take a breather from the business and figure out who you are and what you want. Otherwise, you’ll get eaten alive and it sadly looks like that process has already started. Never too late to change or make up your mind that today is the start of a new life.

  29. Alana says:

    Actually what he said here for most part make sense and he seems to still want Selena ( sounds like it to me lol)
    The thing about child star being toughest thing in the world . I think some Syrian refugees and cancer survivors ( to name a couple) would beg to differ

  30. Penelope says:

    Why would anyone his age, famous or not, know who Bette Midler is? I have no problem with that.

    I kind of feel for him at times. He needs better people around him.

  31. me says:

    He says this as he’s wearing his $1000 jacket, while driving away in his lambo, and sleeping in his 10 million dollar home. He is a white male…on top of the hierarchy ladder. How much struggling did he do in life? He chose this career. He chose to do stupid things in front of cameras. He still lives a better life than 80% of the population. I have no sympathy for him. He still has both his parents, his health, and enough money that he never has to work again if he doesn’t want to. He can walk away at any time.

  32. Kat says:

    I actually think being a displaced refugee child would be way worse than being a child star. Whatever small amount of respect I ever had for him has now flown out the window. He’s an entitled, spoiled brat with no concept of the true hardships in this world. ” WAAAA WAAAA WAAAA!!!!”

    • me says:

      I sort of lost respect for him after those videos of him using the “n” word got out. I know he was young then but he was old enough to know that word is NOT ok to use. It was also horrible that the adults in the room laughed at the racist jokes he was making. It’s weird how the media/public decide who to hate and who not to hate. I mean, two celebs can be caught doing/saying the exact same disgusting thing, yet only one of them will get scolded and “lose their career”. What gives?

  33. Sam says:

    At first glance, I 100% thought this was Miley Cyrus.

  34. JudyK says:

    He’s so effeminate looking. I honestly thought it was Miley Cyrus before I took a second look. Has happened numerous times on this site. He so does NOTHING for me on any level.

  35. cd3 says:

    Minority opinion here: does anyone else think he looks kind of hot with the blond hair?

  36. Veronica says:

    I’m not a fan of his antics, but I did have a “whoa” moment awhile back when I read he was paying for his father’s lifestyle. The same father who had nothing to do with him until he hit the jackpot of child stardom. Something about that made me really sad and made him a little more empathetic. I had a similarly shit father growing up, and I remember what it was like when I was younger and willing to do anything to be “worthy” of his love before I was old enough to realize I shouldn’t have to earn it.

    Does he lack perspective? Absolutely. But where is he going to get it from when he’s surrounded by yes men all the time? His own parents are financially reliant on him, so how can they possibly audit his behavior? He’s beyond privileged, but I’ve no doubt he’s f*cked up. Child stars plummet after fans because they don’t know to live without that constant validation. The real fight is learning how to grow up in a world with no consequences. The parents who push their kids into those lifestyles have a lot to answer for, IMO.

  37. angela says:

    Toughest thing in the world?? How very sad that he thinks this….tough yes… But toughest in the world…GIVE ME A BREAK…tough is growing up in a poor house, being abused by your parents…. Tough is the life of kids sold into the sex trade…touch is the life of kids growing up in war torn areas…wake up Bieber…you got the life of fame you wanted….

  38. AnotherDirtyMartini says:

    Being a child star is the toughest thing in the world? Pfft. This child has very little imagination. I hope he’s reincarnated as someone with a genuinely tough life.

  39. tw says:

    Two words: Emma Watson.

  40. M79 says:

    I get that hating this kid is the popular thing to do, but to allege that his life isn’t as hard as the kid who faces abuse and lives on the streets… I would counter that child stardom is pretty awful. Most people don’t see that because people always want the things they don’t have, and it seems cool to live in a big mansion and have cool cars at his age. But people forget that child stars have a really abnormal experience, and I don’t think it’s safe at all to say that he hasn’t suffered abuse as a child in numerous forms. I knew a few child stars when I was younger and their lives were incredibly depressing and very different from public perception. They had no clue what it was like to go to a regular school, had no one to say no to them (including their parents who they were supporting like Bieber), to have to work at such a young age (and it is real work, the constant touring, rehearsals, press releases, etc) and just not having any guidance or people who really like you for you, and all the insecurities a teen has magnified a hundred times over because what ridicule you get as a normal kid, you get from millions of people around the world scrutinizing your every move. How can you not downspiral? And who knows what he’s lived through at the hands of managers, agents, girls, women, etc? I know people find it hard to have empathy for him, and yes, he does stupid things, but I’m sure there’s a lot to the story we don’t know as with every child star, and their lives are pretty horrible in many ways. Money isn’t everything, and neither is fame.

  41. lile says:

    The hardest thing in the world? I think the children of Sierra Leon or in the slums of India might disagree. He is delusional and infantile. He should stop speaking for about 6 years and stick to singing.

  42. SoupyContainer says:

    Dude needs to get over himself and move on. Take responsibility for your life, Bieber! Ain’t nobody gonna teach you to be a man, you’re on your own now and you better grow up before the world eats you. Poor kids has zero coping skills.

  43. Mew says:

    Oh boy how self absorbed and ignorant, but what else he could ever come up with than egocentric cr*p. There are tons of things that are harder in this world than his life. Grow a pair and get a grip, you whiny little brat.

  44. kimbers says:

    Some of us are VERY aware 😉