‘Can't wait to see you again soon in heaven': Justin Bieber mourns death of his grandfather

News.com.au

28-04-2025

Justin Bieber is mourning the death of his grandfather Bruce Dale.
The Sorry singer penned a touching tribute via Instagram to the late patriarch, who died on Thursday, according to an online obituary.
'Papa, I always took all ur money lol. I remember u specifically telling me, gramma gave u an allowance of 20 dollars for the WEEK!' Bieber recalled in his post Saturday.
'I would always convince you to spend on snacks at the hockey game on Friday nights. Reluctantly you always gave it to me,' he added alongside a throwback photo of the duo taken in 2009.
'Corn nuts, skittles, gum balls, chuck a puck, slush puppies.'
Bieber, 31, continued, 'Shout out to the jr b referees Beatty, Fagon, Flanagan lmfao. For enduring all of my grandpa's heckling for all of your horrible referee calls lmfao. My grandpa wasn't shy in letting them know that they were being pieces of sh**s.'
The Lonely singer, whose mental health has sparked concern in recent months, also noted, 'I can't wait to see u again soon in heaven.'
He added, 'Until then I know ur watching down probly still heckling Beatty or Fagon for missing that cross check call in the corner there lmfao.'
'I will miss u. I will ache. And I'll sit and let myself remember all of the wonderful times we've had,' Bieber concluded the heartfelt post.
Dale's obituary states he died 'peacefully' at the Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth. He's survived by his four children: Candie Toper, Chris Mallette, Chris Dale and Pattie Mallette — Bieber's mother.
The Grammy winner and his wife, Hailey Bieber, are listed among Dale's three grandchildren. Their son, Jack Blues Bieber, whom they welcomed in August 2024, was also named with Dale's great grandchildren.
Dale spoke about his relationship with his famous grandson in an emotional February 2018 interview at the Steps to Stardom Exhibition at Stratford Perth Museum in Bieber's hometown where he recalled going to the singer's first show.
'I don't know,' he answered when asked what makes him emotional about Bieber. 'It just happens. I can sit and talk with anybody about anything, but when it comes to talking about him, I just get emotional.'
Dale's death comes just days after the Beauty and a Beat singer, who made headlines after lashing out at paparazzi in recent weeks, declared he won't be bullied out of Hollywood.
'Everyone telling me to move from La,' he said. 'U think I'm gonna get bullied to leave where my influence is most needed? How can we make a change if we run away from the darkness?'
Bieber shared that he's 'been caught up in the transactional nature of Hollywood,' describing the vague admission as 'embarrassing.'