Despite his numerous accomplishments, including five Diamond certifications, two Grammy Awards, and a career spanning almost two decades, Justin Bieber struggles with imposter syndrome, as he bravely confessed in a heartfelt Instagram Story post. He revealed that he often feels "unqualified and unprepared for the responsibilities thrust upon him," expressing, "Throughout my life, people have told me, 'Wow, Justin, you deserve all this,' but personally, I've always felt unworthy. It's like I'm a fraud." He continued, "When people praise me, it makes me feel deceptive, as if they don't know the real me—how judgmental and selfish I can be. If they did, they wouldn't say such things."
Accompanied by an audio titled "Sneaky Sneaky," Bieber's post continued, "If you ever feel sneaky, welcome to my club. I often feel unprepared and unworthy."
This candid revelation comes after weeks of fans expressing concern and speculation about Bieber's well-being. In February, representatives for Bieber and his wife, Hailey Bieber, addressed comments about his mental and physical health, deeming them "exhausting, pitiful, and indicative of people's执着 in perpetuating negative, salacious, and harmful narratives." The couple welcomed their first child, Jack Blues Bieber, in 2024.
The statement also noted that Bieber had recently severed several close friendships and business relationships that were no longer beneficial to him and had been focusing on creating new music. His latest album, Justice, was released in March 2021, and last year, Mk.gee revealed that he had been working with Bieber in the studio. The singer-songwriter described Bieber as "searching," adding, "Anything that comes out of his mouth is pop music, but behind that, he's capable of creating truly wild and meaningful content."
Bieber's recent admission builds on his previous expressions of complex feelings about success and his career. In a 2021 interview with GQ, he shared, "In this industry, people prey on insecurities and use them for their gain. When that happens, it makes you angry. You become this young, angry person with big dreams, but the world jades you and turns you into someone you don't want to be. One day, you wake up to realize that your relationships are in shambles, you're unhappy, and despite all your success, you still feel empty inside. What is all this worth, really?"
