The complete timeline of Justin Bieber's controversies amid rumors he is eyeing a comeback to music
- Justin became shrouded in legal problems, drug rumors, and public outbursts
- After years of controversies, he took a major step back from the music industry
- But now rumors have erupted that Justin is eyeing a major comeback
When Justin Bieber was skyrocketed into the spotlight at age 15, his adorable smile, side-swept hairstyle, and innocent looks completely captivated the world.
Between that and his angelic singing voice, natural stage presence, and catchy hits, he was soon transformed into one of the most known faces on the planet.
His posters hung on the walls of teenage girls' bedrooms across the nation, people would scream and faint if they saw him, and hoards of fans and cameras followed his every move.
On the outside, it seemed as though Justin was living the dream. But behind the scenes, he was struggling with the sudden attention and immense pressure that came with being a child star.
Soon, the singer, now 30, became shrouded in legal problems, drug rumors, and public outbursts.
The image of a sweet and talented child star that he had worked so hard to achieve was quickly overshadowed by his newfound bad boy reputation.
Justin has been extremely open about how he turned to drugs to cope with his problems, once revealing that his partying got so severe his own bodyguards would have to check his pulse in the middle of the night to make sure he was still alive.
He was caught lashing out at paparazzi on camera, using a racial slur and spitting on his own fans.
FEMAIL made a complete timeline of Justin Bieber's controversies as it's rumored that he's eyeing a comeback to music. He's seen in 2010
In his own words, he 'made every bad decision you could have thought of and went from one of the most loved and adored people in the world to the most ridiculed, judged, and hated person in the world.'
After years of controversies, Justin ultimately took a major step back from the music industry to instead focus on his personal life.
He canceled his tour in 2022 after facing a slew of health problems, parted ways with his longtime manager, Scooter Braun, and sold all the rights to his music catalogue, leaving many to wonder if he was done making music for good.
But now, nearly four years since his last album, rumors have erupted that Justin is eyeing a major comeback.
Now the question remains: will Justin's career have a massive resurgence or will his tumultuous past be too much to shake?
As fans wait for more updates on his rumored return, FEMAIL has taken a look back at the many scandals that the Baby hitmaker has faced over the years.
From his multiple arrests and public outbursts to a baby mama allegation and paternity case, here's a complete timeline of Justin's controversies.
Justin was skyrocketed into the spotlight after he was discovered on YouTube, but struggled to cope with the sudden attention and immense pressure
Justin was born in 1994 in Ontario, Canada, when his parents, Jeremy and Pattie, were both only 18 years old. He's seen as a baby with his dad
They split up soon after, and his mom raised him as a single mother while living in low-income housing
He had a knack for music at a young age, and learned to play piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet as a kid
Justin was born in 1994 in Ontario, Canada, when his parents, Jeremy and Pattie, were both only 18 years old.
They split up soon after, and his mom raised him as a single mother while living in low-income housing.
In 2007, when he was 12, he performed a cover of Ne-Yo 's song So Sick at a local singing competition and his mom uploaded a video of it to YouTube. He's seen as a child
He had a knack for music at a young age, and learned to play piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet as a kid.
In 2007, when he was 12, he performed a cover of Ne-Yo's song So Sick at a local singing competition and his mom uploaded a video of it to YouTube.
She then began posting other clips of him singing to her account, and they soon started to take off.
Music mogul Scooter Braun then came across the channel by chance, and was immensely impressed.
He invited Justin to perform for Usher, and together, Usher and Scooter signed him to their joint company Raymond Braun Media Group.
Usher went on to introduce Justin to L.A. Reid, who offered him contract with Island Records in October 2008, at age 13.
He released his first single One Time in July 2009, which was followed by an EP, entitled My World, in November of that year.
She then began posting other clips of him singing to her account, and they soon caught the attention of music mogul Scooter Braun. He's seen as a child
He invited Justin to perform for Usher, and together, Usher and Scooter signed him to their joint company Raymond Braun Media Group
It was a massive success and contained numerous hits including One Less Lonely Girl and Love Me.
His song Baby with Ludacris dropped in January 2010, and it only concreted his status as a worldwide phenomenon.
Justin went on to release his debut full-length album, My World 2.0, that March, and soon embarked on a sold-out world tour around the globe.
His wildly popular concert film, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, came out in February 2011, which made a whopping $12.4 million on opening day alone.
But the singer faced his first massive scandal in 2011 at the height of his career, when a woman named Mariah Yeater filed a paternity case against then-17-year-old Justin claiming that he was the father of her four-month-old son.
She alleged that she got pregnant after a backstage encounter with the popstar.
He denied her allegations, with his team telling Us Weekly in a statement that they planned to 'vigorously pursue all available legal remedies to protect Justin and hold those involved with bringing this suit accountable for their actions.'
Justin released his first single One Time in July 2009, which was followed by an EP, entitled My World, in November of that year. He's seen in 2009
His song Baby with Ludacris dropped in January 2010, and it only concreted his status as a worldwide phenomenon. He's seen in 2010
On the Today show, Justin also addressed it, stating, 'I never met the woman… I'd just like to say, basically, that none of those allegations are true.
'I know that I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim.'
She ultimately dropped the case and a paternity test found that he was not the baby's father.
Justin has also been honest about how he struggled to cope with the immense attention that he received at such a young age.
He reflected on the 'insane pressure and responsibility' that was put on him as a child star in a lengthy note shared to Instagram in 2019.
He recalled feeling 'unfulfilled' for years, despite 'having a lot of money, clothes, cars, accolades, awards, and achievements.'
'My whole world was flipped on its head,' he wrote. 'I went from a 13-year-old boy from a small town to being praised left and right by the world with millions saying how much they loved me and how great I was.
In 2011, a woman named Mariah Yeater (seen in 2010) filed a paternity case against then-17-year-old Justin claiming that he was the father of her four-month-old son
She ultimately dropped the case and a paternity test found that he was not the baby's father. He's seen in December 2010
'I don't know about you but humility comes with age. You hear these things as a young boy and you actually star believing it.'
The singer also reflected on being a 'child star' to Billboard magazine in 2015, stating, '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... 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.'
He recalled feeling 'empty' and 'lost' while adjusting to fame, and added that it felt like he 'didn't know himself.'
His downward spiral began in 2013 as he faced a series of scandals - becoming shrouded in legal problems, drug rumors, and public outbursts
Justin's reign continued throughout 2012, as he dropped his third album, Believe, and embarked on the Believe Tour soon after to promote it. He's seen in July 2012
But his downward spiral began in 2013, and he soon became shrouded in legal problems, drug rumors, and public outbursts. He's seen in February 2013
Justin's reign continued throughout 2012, as he dropped his third album, Believe, and embarked on the Believe Tour soon after to promote it.
But throughout 2013, his tragic downward spiral began.
He soon began to shed the sweet child star image he had worked so hard to achieve as he became shrouded in legal problems, drug rumors, and public outbursts.
It all began in March 2013, when Justin was rushed to the hospital after he reportedly fainted backstage.
Hours later, he got into a nasty fight with a paparazzi with dramatic footage showing him lunging at a snapper as his own bodyguard held him back.
He screamed at the photographer, 'I'll f**king beat the f**k out of you.'
'Ahhhhh! Rough morning. Trying to feel better for this show tonight but let the paps get the best of me,' he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, afterwards.
'Sometimes when people are shoving cameras in your face all day and yelling the worst thing possible at you... well I'm human.
'Rough week. Not gonna let them get the best of me again. Gonna get focused on this show tonight.
'Adrenaline is high now. Gonna put it on the stage. Only way someone can break you is if you let them.'
That same month, actress Olivia Wilde blasted him online after photos emerged of him walking around London shirtless. 'Bieber, put your f**king shirt on,' she tweeted.
In March 2013, Justin got into a nasty fight with a paparazzi; dramatic footage showed him lunging at a snapper as his own bodyguard held him back
That same month, actress Olivia Wilde blasted him online after photos emerged of him walking around London shirtless. 'Bieber, put your f**king shirt on,' she tweeted. He's seen in 2013
He was also accused of attempting to enter a club with underage people in his posse, which he denied. He's seen in March 2013
He was also accused of attempting to enter a club with underage people in his posse, which he denied, and was slammed for showing up on stage 40 minutes late at one of his shows.
One month later, he faced backlash again after he wrote a message in the guestbook at the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam that did not sit well with many people.
'Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a Belieber,' he wrote, in reference to his fanclub.
It was also reported that his tour bus had been raided that month by police in Sweden, who 'found a small amount of drugs on board,' People reported, which was said to be marijuana.
Amid the reports, Justin ambiguously tweeted, 'Some of the rumors about me… Where do people even get this stuff? Whatever… back to the music.'
That July, Justin once again faced fury after he was seen allegedly peeing into a bucket outside of a club in New York City.
Throughout 2013, the hitmaker also made headlines for holding what appeared to be a joint in a photo, visiting a brothel in Brazil, allegedly spitting on fans, and driving recklessly around his neighborhood.
In December of that year, amid the ongoing bad press, he announced that he was stepping away from the spotlight.
'My beloved Beliebers I'm officially retiring,' he wrote on X.
However he added in a second post afterwards, 'The media talks a lot about me.
'They make a up a lot of lies and want me to fail but I'm never leaving you, being a Belieber is a lifestyle.'
Justin faced multiple arrests throughout 2014, and an old video resurfaced in that showed him using the N-word
It was revealed in January 2014 that police had searched Justin's home (seen) after they got a complaint that he had thrown eggs at his neighbor's abode and he was charged with vandalism
Weeks later, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, resisting arrest, and driving without a valid license (seen)
For Justin, 2014 kicked off with a bang, as it was revealed in January that police had showed up to search his home in Calabasas, California, after they got a complaint that he had thrown eggs at one of his neighbor's abodes.
Justin was charged with vandalism and eventually accepted a plea that put him on probation for two years.
He was also ordered to completely 12 weekly anger management sessions and had to pay $80,900 restitution for the damage that he caused on the neighbor's mansion.
Weeks later, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, resisting arrest, and driving without a valid license.
Police said they stopped him after they saw him street racing. Police chief Raymond Martinez revealed in a press conference that Justin 'made some statements that he had consumed some alcohol, and that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication' before they brought him in.
He plead guilty to careless driving and resisting arrest, and he agreed to take another anger management course and pay $50,000 in charitable contributions and fines.
The singer also found himself facing an assault charge in January 2014 over an incident that had happened one month prior with a limo driver.
The singer also found himself facing an assault charge over an incident that had happened one month prior with a limo driver. He's seen at the police station in January 2014
He was arrested again that June after he got into an ATV accident, and was found guilty of assault and careless driving. He's seen in July 2014
The chauffer claimed Justin hit him in the head several times, but the charge was dropped in September 2014 after prosecutors said there was 'no reasonable prospect.'
He was arrested again that June after he got into an ATV accident, and was found guilty of assault and careless driving.
Amid his numerous arrests, a petition to have Justin deported and sent back to his home country Canada got more than 273,000 signatures.
On top of his legal problems, Justin was also put into hot water after an old video from 2011 resurfaced in June 2014 that showed him appearing to use the N-word.
'I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake,' he said in a statement at the time.
'I thought it was okay to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but I didn't realize at the time that it wasn't funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance.
'Thanks to friends and family I learned from my mistakes and grew up and apologized for those wrongs.
'Now that these mistakes from the past have become public I need to apologize again to all of those who I have offended. Ignorance has no place in our society and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future.
'I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say but telling the truth is always what's right. Once again… I'm sorry.'
Justin later confessed his drug use got so bad that his bodyguards had to check his pulse in the middle of the night to make sure he was still alive
Justin (seen in 2015) later said of those years, 'People don't know how serious it got. It was legit crazy scary. I was waking up in the morning and the first thing I was doing is popping pills'
Justin reflected on those years in a fiercely honest Instagram post in 2019, and he described that time of his life as a 'cycle of disappointment after disappointment.'
He told GQ in 2021 that things got so bad during that time that his bodyguards would have to 'check his pulse' in the middle of the night to make sure he was still alive. He's seen in 2014
'It's hard to get out of bed in the morning with the right attitude when you are overwhelmed with your life, your past, job, responsibilities, emotions, your family, finances, and your relationship,' he wrote.
'It feels like there's trouble after trouble after trouble. You start foreseeing the day through lenses of dread and anticipating another bad day.
'[It's] a cycle of feeling disappointment after disappointment. Sometimes it can even get to the point where you don't want to live anymore. Where you feel like you're never going to change.'
Justin explained that 'everyone did everything for him' during his teenage years, so he 'never learned the fundamentals of responsibility.'
'[I had] millions of dollars and access to whatever I wanted,' he added. 'This is a very scary concept for anyone.
'By 20, I made every bad decision you could have thought of and went from one of the most loved and adored people in the world to the most ridiculed, judged, and hated person in the world.'
He also described going through 'massive ups and downs' that were 'very hard to manage.'
'I started doing heavy drugs at 19 and abused all of my relationships,' he confessed.
'I became resentful, disrespectful to women, and angry. I became distant to everyone who loved me and I was hiding behind a shell of a person that I had become.
His manager Scooter also told Billboard of those years, 'I couldn’t go to sleep during that time. Every night I was wondering, "Is something going to happen?"' They're seen in 2015
'I felt like I could never turn it around and it's taken me years to bounce back from all these terrible decisions, fix broken relationships, and change... habits.'
He also spoke about his drug use in his 2020 YouTube docuseries, admitting, 'People don't know how serious it got. It was legit crazy scary.
'I was waking up in the morning and the first thing I was doing is popping pills and smoking a blunt and starting my day.'
He told GQ in 2021 that things got so bad during that time that his bodyguards would have to 'check his pulse' in the middle of the night to make sure he was still alive.
'There was a sense of still yearning for more. 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,"' he said.
'And I thought all the success was going to make everything good. And so for me, the drugs were a numbing agent to just continue to get through.'
His manager Scooter also told Billboard of those years, 'I couldn't go to sleep during that time. Every night I was wondering, "Is something going to happen?"'
Justin then canceled his Purpose tour and took a major step back from work to focus on his personal life - tying the knot with Hailey in 2018
Despite a not-so-good 2014, Justin re-entered the music scene in 2015, releasing his next album, Purpose, that November. He's seen in 2015
He kicked off on the Purpose Tour in March 2016, but in July 2017, he announced that he was canceling the tour with only 14 shows remaining. He's seen in December 2015
Despite a not-so-good 2014, Justin re-entered the music scene in 2015, releasing his next album, Purpose, that November.
He kicked off on the Purpose Tour in March 2016, but in July 2017, he announced that he was canceling the tour with only 14 shows remaining.
While Justin's career began to slow down after that, his personal life started to flourish. He famously got back together with his ex Hailey Bieber in June 2018, and they tied the knot that September. They're seen in July 2018
'Justin loves his fans and hates to disappoint them,' a statement said at the time.
'However, after careful consideration he has decided he will not be performing any further dates. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase.'
On Instagram afterwards, Justin explained that the decision stemmed from him looking towards his future.
'Me taking this time right now is me saying I want to be SUSTAINABLE... so that I can be the man I want to be, the husband I eventually want to be, and the father I want to be,' he wrote.
'Learning and growing hasn't always been easy but knowing I'm not alone has kept me going.
'I have let my insecurities get the best of me at times, I let my broken relationships dictate the way I acted toward people and the way I treated them.
'I let bitterness, jealousy and fear run my life. What I'm not gonna do is be ashamed of my mistakes. I wanna be a man that learns from them and grows from them.'
While Justin's career began to slow down after that, his personal life started to flourish.
He famously got back together with his ex Hailey Bieber in June 2018, and they tied the knot that September.
He launched a massive comeback tour in 2022 which he was later forced to cancel amid a slew of health problems
After a few quiet years, Justin returned to the music industry in early 2020, dropping his fifth album, Changes, and his own YouTube docuseries. He's seen at the premiere of the docuseries
Justin shocked the world when he revealed that he was suffering from Lyme disease and chronic mono after someone claimed he looked like he was 'on meth.' He's seen in 2020
After a few quiet years, Justin returned to the music industry in early 2020, dropping his fifth album, Changes.
He also released a YouTube docuseries, called Justin Bieber: Seasons, which chronicled his return to music.
But Justin shocked the world when he revealed that he was suffering from Lyme disease and chronic mono after someone claimed he looked like he was 'on meth.'
'They failed to realize I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease,' he wrote on his Instagram.
'Not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my skin, brain function, energy, and overall health.'
His sixth studio album, Justice, came out in March 2021, and he set out on his Justice World Tour in February 2022.
His sixth studio album, Justice, came out in March 2021, and he set out on his Justice World Tour in February 2022. He's seen in February 2020
But in September of that year, he postponed the rest of the shows to focus on his health and announced he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. He's seen in September 2022
But in September of that year, he postponed the rest of the shows to focus on his health.
He said he was suffering from facial paralysis, and said he needed to focus on 'resting' so he could 'get better'
He explained at the time that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome and was suffering from facial paralysis, and said he needed to focus on 'resting' so he could 'get better.'
According to Mayo Clinic, Ramsay Hunt syndrome 'occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one of your ears.'
'After getting offstage, the exhaustion overtook me and I realized I need to make my health the priority right now,' he said.
'So I'm going to take a break from touring right now. I'm going to be okay, but I need to take time to rest and get better.'
Then, in January 2023, Justin sold his entire music catalog from his entire 15 year recording career to Blackstone-backed Hipgnosis Songs Capital for a whopping $200 million.
Two months later, he officially canceled his previously-postponed shows from the Justice World Tour.
It was also revealed that he had parted ways with his longtime manager, Scooter, in June 2024.
Rumors recently erupted that the singer is eyeing a return to music after a four-year hiatus because he 'needs the money and wants to work'
Since then, the singer has mostly shied away from the music industry. Instead, he seems to be enjoying married life with his wife, Hailey, and together, they welcomed a baby boy in August
Earlier this month, Puck News reported that Justin was eyeing a return to music after a four-year hiatus because he 'needs the money and wants to work'
Since then, the singer has mostly shied away from the music industry.
Instead, he seems to be enjoying married life with his wife, Hailey, and together, they welcomed a baby boy, named Jack Blues, in August 2024.
But in September, rumors began to swirl that Justin was returning to music after artist Mk.gee told the New York Times that he had written and recorded tracks with the popstar.
Mk.gee ambiguously said that Justin was in the midst of 'searching,' adding, 'Anything that comes out of his mouth: That's pop music.
'You can really do pretty wild stuff behind that, just because it represents something.'
Earlier this month, Puck News reported that the singer was eyeing a return to music after a four-year hiatus because he 'needs the money and wants to work.'
Justin sparked rumors that he was having marital problems earlier this week when he unfollowed his wife, Hailey, on Instagram
But Justin quickly took to Instagram to insist that it wasn't him who unfollowed Hailey as he claimed that someone else has accessed his account
Days later, Justin shared some images to Instagram that appeared to show him back in the studio working on music.
In one image, Justin was seen focusing on a computer, while in a second shot, he was sang into a microphone while wearing a pair of headphones.
He sparked rumors that he was having marital problems earlier this week when he unfollowed his wife, Hailey, on Instagram.
But Justin quickly took to Instagram to insist that it wasn't him who unfollowed Hailey as he claimed that someone else has accessed his account.
'Someone went on my account and unfollowed my wife. S**t getting sus out here,' he wrote on his Instagram Story.
