To say that Justin Bieber is making a comeback would be an understatement. With his upcoming album Purpose , a recently announced tour, and multiple hit singles, the Biebs is officially on the upswing. It's great to see, considering he had a rocky past year with his DUI and all those other shenanigans. While he was the subject of plenty of jokes (Remember his Comedy Central Roast?), it turns out it actually was a hard time for Bieber. In an interview with NME magazine, Justin Bieber admits to feeling depressed "all the time." The "Sorry" singer went on to say,
I feel isolated. You're in your hotel room and there are fans all around, paparazzi following you everywhere, and it gets intense. When you can't go anywhere or do anything alone you get depressed. I would not wish this upon anyone.
This is incredibly heartbreaking to hear. People assume his life is super glamorous just because he's a celebrity, but when you have a bunch of fans, that's not the same as having a solid support system. It really does make me look at Bieber differently, and I applaud him for using his huge platform to speak out about mental health. He also told the magazine, "I'm struggling just to get through the days. I think a lot of people are." He's right — depression is a very real issue and one of the most common mental illnesses in the U.S.
Bieber went on to talk about the facade of fame and how people don't see what really goes on behind Instagram filters or after concerts end. He even compared his experience to the tragic life of Amy Winehouse, explaining,
People see the glam and the amazing stuff, but they don't know the other side. This life can rip you apart. I watched the Amy Winehouse documentary on the plane and I had tears in my eyes because I could see what the media was doing to her, how they were treating her. People thought it was funny to poke her when she was at rock bottom, to keep pushing her down until she had no more of herself. And that's what they were trying to do to me.
It's a shame to hear that Bieber has been struggling, but I'm glad that things seem to be looking up. Plus, I really respect him for speaking out about this. These comments are an important reminder to not pick on someone, even celebrities, just because they seem like an easy target. It's impossible to tell what's happening behind the scenes and in someone's head.
Here's wishing Bieber plenty of happiness as he continues to move forward.
