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Justin Bieber Opens Up About Being “Broken” and Struggling with Anger Amid Fatherhood Milestone

  • Jun 16, 2025
  • 3 min read

16 June 2025

Aeon/Getty Images
Aeon/Getty Images

On June 15, coinciding with his first Father’s Day as a parent alongside wife Hailey and son Jack Blues Bieber, 31‑year‑old Justin Bieber posted a raw and unfiltered wave of Instagram updates that revealed a deeply wounded individual grappling with unresolved trauma. The singer unapologetically shared a heated text exchange with a former friend, one that culminated in cutting ties and exposing simmering anger.


In one screenshot, Bieber responded to criticism by asserting: “Conflict is a part of relationship. If you don’t like my anger, you don’t like me.” He went on to describe himself as “traumatized” and “broken” and declared that “asking a traumatized person not to be traumatized is simply mean.” When the friend attempted to explain their discomfort, Bieber wrote: “Ouch. This friendship is officially over… I will never accept a man calling my anger lashing out… Blocking u now.” The exchange shattered any illusion of polished celebrity detachment and laid bare a man at odds with himself.


Bieber didn’t stop there. In follow‑up Story posts, he cautioned his followers: “Quit asking me if I’m okay… Your concern doesn’t come off as care. It’s just oppressive weirdo.” A later post addressed what he identifies as a persistent drive to self‑improve: “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.” He described feeling depleted: “The harder I try to grow, the more focused on myself I am… Jesus is the only person who keeps me wanting to make my life about others… I’m exhausted with thinking about myself lately, aren’t you?”


The striking candour comes amid personal highs, Father’s Day with Hailey and Jack, alongside public lows that have stirred fan concern. Reddit threads lit up with worry. One comment read, “Truly hope he gets the help he needs… this is just sad,” while another cautioned: “Trauma does not give you the right to be a piece of s‑‑‑.” Others compared his breakdown to previous celebrity moments, lamenting the visible mental strain.


TMZ weighed in, describing Bieber as “in the throes of a mental crisis.” The tabloid framed his confession “I know I’m broken… I have intense anger issues” as a departure from his typically controlled public persona.


The timing, on the heels of lavish Father’s Day posts featuring a $38,000 Audemars Piguet watch and designer gifts, underscored a stark contrast between external success and internal rupture


This public admission isn’t unprecedented. Bieber has previously posted reflections on his anger and emotional turbulence, including in March when he wrote, “I got anger issues too, but I wanna grow and not react so much.” Back then, he attributed that impasse to a longer-term introspection. Today, though, he stripped away the guarded optimism in favor of brutal honesty about exhaustion and brokenness.


Psychologists note that degree of self-disclosure in public forums can be both therapeutic and fraught. Dr. Elaine Hunter, clinical psychologist, explains: “Expressing vulnerability can be healing, but triggering conflict and shaming oneself online carries risk. It dares to be real but also sets the stage for public backlash.” For a global star navigating a blizzard of expectations, each post becomes an emotional battleground.


Fans and media have responded with a mix of empathy and criticism. Concerned supporters describe the exchanges as “toxic” and “emotionally volatile,” while others applaud Bieber for refusing to hide his missteps and mental health struggles.


The question now is: what happens next? Bieber has shown no signs of pulling back from social media, though persistent snapshots of erratic behavior such as his confrontations with paparazzi in Malibu suggest deeper fissures


Sources close to Bieber have hinted that his former circle is worried by reports of “demons” and relationships fraying some linked to alleged financial or business pressures related to his recent ventures


Still, his marriage endures as a public anchor. Married since 2018 (with a vow renewal in 2024), Hailey’s subtle comment “Father’s Day sucks ass” triggered speculation, though insiders say the couple remains united. Their shared dedication to family, especially as they raise nine‑month‑old Jack at least offers a foundation amid emotional turbulence.


Justin Bieber’s confession marks a turning point in the era of celebrity vulnerability. No longer confined to quotes or interviews, this kind of social-media confession invites global participation: a collective witness to a star’s unraveling, recovery, and search for identity beyond fame. As Bieber wrote, he’s “exhausted” by himself. Now, perhaps with help, the music world will finally see him begin the work of healing.

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