Justin Bieber, the pop megastar said to be only 30 years old, is ‘finding it hard to deal with the fallout’ accusing one of his ‘closest friends’, the music titan Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, of ‘vile acts of sexual depravity’. That’s according to sources close to the Baby singer, who are claiming he’s ‘feeling the heat’ over the searing allegations that helped land Combs a federal indictment on sex-trafficking charges last week. Bieber recently married, and became a father for the first time to his baby boy, also named after Baldwin. ‘Justin hasn’t said anything,’ claimed an insider, who believed that his enforced silence makes him look ‘guilty’.
Diddy’s Legal Troubles Cast Shadow Over Bieber
The charges specifically level against the 54-year-old Combs include coercion and blackmail, with violence used to control victims over a ‘series of acts of abuse over the course of many years’, including ‘freak off’ parties in which he forced women and male sex workers into crack-fueled sex binges.
Combs’ arrest has sent tremors through the music industry, and Bieber’s close relationship with the fallen rapper has been under additional scrutiny. Footage has resurfaced from when the R’n’B singer spent time with Combs, who was just 15 at the time – leading to the speculation that there might have been more to their relationship than just a music collaboration. In one of the videos, rehashed from years ago, Combs bragged about the Canadian having ‘48 hours with Diddy’. The singer spent time with the music mogul as a teen.
Fatherhood and Isolation
At the same time, Bieber is also adjusting to being a parent for the first time. In August 2024, he and model Hailey Baldwin welcomed their son, Jack Blues Bieber. Pals report that Bieber is feeling totally alone. ‘Justin feels like there’s no one he can speak to who understands,’ – he was still a kid when he was going out with Diddy,’ a pal told [Daily Mail].
The insider added that Bieber is trying to be a good father, but lacks a strong role model from his own childhood because of his troubled relationship with his own father, Jeremy Bieber. ‘Justin is stressed out … he has a baby boy and is trying to be a good dad but doesn’t have anything to reference what a good father is,’ the source told the Daily Mail.
Disturbing Videos Resurface
The re-emergence of these videos with Bieber as he ventures into his young adult life navigating the music industry has only heightened fears. In one clip, Combs calls a 14-year-old Bieber ‘been under my custody for 48 hours… we gon’ go full crazy’. The footage has reopened discussions about the level of power Combs had over Bieber during his early career.
Bieber, who’s declined to comment on the Diddy allegations, is said to be ‘disturbed’ by the reports. Insiders tell In Touch that the latest revelations ‘hit Justin hard. He hasn’t said a word on this since the home raids on Diddy’s properties back in April, and he’s not going to’.
Strained Relationships and Career Ties
Bieber has also been criticized for his professional relationship with Combs, the most recent iteration of which was his appearance on Combs’ 2023 album The Love Album: Off the Grid. Bieber reflected on this early moment with Combs, describing how he had pitched Combs a song when he was 14-years-old: ‘He was like: “‘That’s whack.” I was devastated … Then he asks me if I want to freestyle for his album. We got in the car and had this sort of wild full circle moment. But now I look back and go, damn, I really didn’t really have a chance, did I?’ Bieber appears conflicted about this moment now.
An insider told The Daily Mail, meanwhile, that Bieber is ‘distraught over the allegations and regrets associating with Combs’. ‘He took a long break from Diddy when most of this is alleged to have happened,’ says the source. ‘He distanced himself but regrets ever working with him again.
Public Perception and Health Concerns
Since the fallout from the Diddy scandal, some fans have also been expressing concern about Bieber’s ‘thin’ and emaciated-looking physical appearance as well as his seeming anxiety. In recent months, Bieber has been especially circumspect about his private life, shielding his family from the media’s glare as he prepares to welcome his first child this year. Shrewdly, Bieber was explicit about his prior history of battling depression and substance abuse, a discussion that often leads to questions about suffering.
Onlookers are also concerned about whether fatherhood as well as the stress following Diddy’s indictment and the strain of public scrutiny are sweeping the singer into dark waters. ‘Everyone is worried that if Hailey is having any issues adjusting to being a first-time mom, it will make things harder for Justin,’ the pal claimed. ‘They are fully in baby mode, and that’s their number one priority.’
Moving Forward
Meanwhile, as Bieber attempts to weather this rocky stretch, the singer seems to be putting his family first and keeping quiet: a source close to the singer tells PEOPLE: ‘He is doing his best to keep the Diddy allegations out of his head and concentrate on being a father, but it’s not easy.
It’s a story that will continue to play out for years, in the eyes of the record companies – and Bieber’s fans – who will be left wondering how this will affect the pop star now. With Combs’ case bound to be in the papers for years, and Bieber’s past relationship with him under intense scrutiny, the future looks bumpy for the pop star.
For more details, read the full coverage on Daily Mail and TMZ.
