A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Justin Bieber's life and career.
Justin Bieber is a Canadian singer and pop icon known for his genre-spanning music. Discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, he was signed to RBMG Records through Usher. His debut EP, My World (2009), gained him international recognition and established him as a teen idol.
April 2010: Vocal changes due to puberty
In April 2010, Justin Bieber acknowledged his voice was changing due to puberty, causing cracking and preventing him from hitting certain notes he previously could, such as those in "Baby".
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2010: Voice Change During "Pray" Performance
During the debut performance of "Pray" at the 2010 American Music Awards, Justin Bieber's voice broke. It was also observed that Bieber sang with "swing and rhythmic dexterity" and a "nasal" tone on his debut album.
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2010: Criticism for Looking Younger
In 2010, Justin Bieber was frequently criticized for looking and sounding younger than his age, affecting his public image.
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2011: Androgynous Appearance
In 2011, Justin Bieber faced criticism for an androgynous appearance, notably highlighted by his appearance on the cover of LOVE magazine's androgyny issue.
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2012: Accused of reckless driving
In 2012, Justin Bieber was accused of reckless driving in his neighborhood.
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February 9, 2013: Host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live
On February 9, 2013, Justin Bieber hosted and performed as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, receiving negative reviews from critics and cast members.
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March 7, 2013: Fainted backstage at London concert
On March 7, 2013, Justin Bieber fainted backstage at London's O2 Arena after experiencing breathing problems during his concert, leading to hospitalization.
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2013: Charged in Brazil with vandalism
In 2013, Justin Bieber was charged in Brazil with vandalism.
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2013: Controversial Events
In 2013, Justin Bieber was involved in several controversial events that drastically affected his teen heart-throb image, including abandoning a pet monkey and urinating in a bucket.
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March 2014: Rolling Stone "Bad Boy" Cover
In March 2014, Justin Bieber appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine with the title "Bad Boy", reflecting his controversial image during that period.
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July 9, 2014: Sentenced for Vandalism
On July 9, 2014, Justin Bieber was sentenced for vandalism for throwing eggs at his neighbor's house in Calabasas. The Los Angeles County Superior Court ordered him to pay $80,900 in restitution, serve two years' probation, complete anger management, and perform community service.
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August 13, 2014: Plea Bargain in DUI Case
On August 13, 2014, Justin Bieber's January DUI case was settled with a plea bargain. He pleaded guilty to resisting an officer and driving without due care and attention. Bieber was fined $500, ordered to attend anger management and a program about the impact of drunken driving, and contributed $50,000 to Our Kids, a children's charity.
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September 1, 2014: Arrested for Assault and Dangerous Driving
On September 1, 2014, Justin Bieber was arrested and charged with assault and dangerous driving near Stratford, Ontario, following a collision between his ATV and a minivan on August 29. Police reported a physical altercation between Bieber and an occupant of the minivan. Bieber was later released.
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November 2014: Ordered to Appear in Argentina
In November 2014, Justin Bieber was ordered by a Buenos Aires court to appear in Argentina within 60 days to give testimony regarding an alleged assault on a photographer that happened November 9, 2013.
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July 2017: Banned From Performing in China
In July 2017, the Chinese government banned Justin Bieber from performing in China, citing his controversial behavior and the need to maintain order in the Chinese market.
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July 24, 2017: Cancellation of Purpose World Tour Dates
On July 24, 2017, Justin Bieber cancelled the remaining dates of the Purpose World Tour due to "unforeseen circumstances".
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January 2020: Diagnosed with Lyme disease and infectious mononucleosis
In January 2020, Justin Bieber announced on his Instagram that he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease and infectious mononucleosis, which affected his neurological and overall health.
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June 2020: Sexual Assault Accusation
In June 2020, Justin Bieber was accused of sexual assault by a woman known as "Danielle," who claimed the incident occurred in March 2014. Bieber denied the allegations and provided evidence that he was not at the location at the time of the alleged incident.
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2020: Opened up about his struggles with addiction
In his American YouTube docu-series Seasons (2020), Justin Bieber opened up about his struggles with addiction, with frequent consumption of the recreational drug lean, pills such as MDMA, and hallucinogenic mushrooms in the early stages of his career.
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January 2021: Reflected on his 2014 arrest
In January 2021, Justin Bieber reflected on his 2014 arrest, describing it as "not [his] finest hour" and encouraging fans to "let the forgiveness of Jesus take over and watch your life blossom into all that God has designed you to be."
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2021: Bieber's Scenes Removed from Friends Reunion in China
In 2021, Chinese streaming platforms Youku, iQIYI, and Tencent Video removed Justin Bieber's scenes from Friends: The Reunion, where he donned Ross Geller's "Spudnik" costume.
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February 2022: Tested positive for COVID-19
In February 2022, it was reported that Justin Bieber had tested positive for COVID-19, two days after embarking on his fourth concert tour, the Justice World Tour.
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