Justin Bieber Says Industry Preys On Young Stars & Details Past Drug Abuse

BY Erika Marie 9.6K Views
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Justin Bieber, Drug Abuse, GQ, Child Star
The singer revealed that things got so bad that his security guards would check his pulse as he slept to make sure he was still alive.

The pressures of child stardom have been shared for decades. Celebrities who launched their careers as kids often find themselves struggling with money problems, expensive habits, alcoholism, and addictions, and in recent years, Justin Bieber has been opening up about the troublesome days of his youth. There was a time when Bieber was making headlines due to arrests and bad behaviors, and he caught up with GQ about his battle with substance abuse.

The Justice singer revealed that there are people in the industry who prey on young stars for a variety of reasons, causing these impressionable child celebrities to deal with issues they aren't prepared to handle. "It was like I had all this success and it was still like: I’m still sad, and I’m still in pain. And I still have these unresolved issues," said Bieber.

He called drugs his "numbing agent" that helped him get through day-to-day life, adding that exposure to the industry can make a young person jaded. "And then you wake up one day and your relationships are f*cked up and you’re unhappy and you have all this success in the world, but you’re just like: Well, what is this worth if I’m still feeling empty inside?”

Bieber recalled that his security guards would look in on him in the evenings as he slept, regularly checking his pulse to make sure he was alive. Now, the pop star claims he's living a healthier lifestyle and credits his relationship with wife Hailey Bieber as a key component to helping him through his storm.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.