When global pop icon Justin Bieber speaks, the world typically pays attention. But what if the response isn’t real? What if they are a mix of hidden judgment, self-centered opinions, and/or emotional garbage pretending to be care?
In a series of Instagram Stories, Justin Bieber opened up to fans and critics about his mental state. And based on his messaging, you can tell he is undoubtedly tired, aggravated, and desperately looking for support amid a constant flood of noise. His words weren’t carefully planned for public relations or made pretty for everyone to see. They were honest. They were real. And for countless people quietly dealing with their own struggles, they were absolutely necessary.
“QUIT ASKING ME IF I’M OKAY
QUIT ASKING ME HOW I’M DOING
I DON’T DO THAT TO YOU
BECAUSE I KNOW HOW LIFE IS FOR ALL OF US IT’S HARD”
There’s a raw, almost painful familiarity in that message. This is especially true for young men and women in our communities who often feel constantly watched but rarely truly seen. Bieber’s frustration doesn’t come from wanting to be alone or from not caring about real concerns. It comes from the empty sound of the question “Are you okay?” when there’s no real desire to listen to an honest answer. In a world increasingly focused on how things look, Bieber is saying it exactly as it is:
“YOUR CONCERN DOESN’T COME OFF AS CARE – IT’S JUST OPPRESSIVE WEIRDO”
There’s a common trend in our culture to treat being vulnerable as something wrong, to turn someone’s true feelings into a public show. Bieber’s strong words echo a quiet request many of us have: for others not to make our pain about their own discomfort or entertainment.
“LET’S ENCOURAGE OUR PEOPLE NOT PROJECT OUR INSECURITIES ONTO ONE ANOTHER”
Real support for mental health isn’t just about telling people to “get help.” It’s mostly about showing up with true understanding, leaving our ego aside, and meeting people where they are. When we hear the common saying, “check on your strong friends,” it rarely comes with the important advice of how to do it. It’s not about turning their tough days into awkward checklists or fake pity. It’s about being consistently and genuinely present with them.
In another very open post, Bieber pulls back the curtain even more, showing a deep flaw in our society:
“PEOPLE KEEP TELLING ME TO HEAL
DON’T YOU THINK IF I COULD HAVE FIXED MYSELF I WOULD HAVE ALREADY?
I KNOW I’M BROKEN.
I KNOW I HAVE ANGER ISSUES.”
This isn’t just about Bieber’s personal struggles. This connects deeply with anyone who has ever been carelessly told to “fix themselves” by people who, at the same time, don’t offer a safe, non-judgmental place for that difficult process to happen. The message here isn’t that healing isn’t important. It’s an impossible burden to heal under the vast pressure of people who only want you to change for their comfort, never truly for your own peace. And Bieber shows the deep cost of this:
“I TRIED TO DO THE WORK MY WHOLE LIFE TO BE LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED TO BE FIXED LIKE THEM.
AND IT JUST KEEPS MAKING ME MORE TIRED AND MORE ANGRY.”
This speaks to the exhaustion that comes from constantly trying to fit into what others expect, instead of accepting and growing into who you truly are. This feeling of being “tired and angry” from endless outside pressure is very relatable.
Without directly saying it, one of the most painful truths Bieber touches on is the awful feeling of fake love. This is the harmful kind of “support” that only shows up when it’s easy, the type of “care” that twists your feelings and plays mind games. When the people around you care more about how you look to others than your true well-being, that isn’t love. That is, without a doubt, being scrutinized disguised as affection.
“THE MORE FOCUSED ON MYSELF I AM
THE HARDER I TRY TO GROW
THE MORE TIRED AND ANGRY I GET”
Real love… true love, creates and protects a special space. It doesn’t demand healing on a set schedule. It doesn’t make fun of or dismiss the hard work of improving oneself. And most importantly, it doesn’t call someone “broken” just because they are bravely learning to live, grow, and find their way.
How Do We Respond to This Pressure? Bieber’s raw honesty is a powerful call for all of us to act:
- Stop Faking Concern. If you plan to ask someone if they are truly okay, be ready for an honest answer. Be prepared to hear that truth without judging it or pulling away.
- Don’t Project Your Own Issues. Your own discomfort with someone else’s feelings is never a good reason to make them your personal “fix-it” project. Let them exist. Let them feel.
- Make It Normal to Not Be Okay. Life, especially in the fast pace of New York, is naturally difficult. Saying this shouldn’t feel like a shameful secret; it should be the basic starting point for building real community and helping each other.
- Check Your Own Reasons. Are you showing “love” to truly support, lift up, and empower someone? Or is it simply to control the story around someone else’s pain for your own comfort or benefit?
- Lead With Humility, Not Unwanted Advice. Sometimes, the most powerful and kindest thing you can say is: “I don’t have all the answers. But please know, I am here for you.”
In his final, touching thought, Bieber reveals where he finds his strength:
“JESUS IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO KEEPS ME WANTING TO MAKE MY LIFE ABOUT OTHERS
BECAUSE HONESTLY I’M EXHAUSTED WITH THINKING ABOUT MYSELF LATELY AREN’T YOU?”
For Bieber, faith is his steady anchor. Not in a preachy or strict way, but in the honest truth that in a world full of projections, constant pressure, and fake concern, something truly real and deeply grounding is absolutely essential.
Whether your personal anchor is spiritual belief, community, family, or a strong inner compass, Bieber’s heartfelt request speaks to everyone: Let’s work together to make more room for truth over fake appearances, for real connection over isolating ideas, and for healing that happens on human terms, never dictated by the quick timelines of social media.
