Latest news with #HillsongChurch
IOL News
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Claims of debt, drug use and cult-like church as Justin Bieber shares cryptic selfies on IG
Justin Bieber's Instagram posts have become more erratic and questions are being raised around his personal life. Image: Instagram Pop icon Justin Bieber has reignited public concern following a bizarre Instagram post over the weekend that has prompted fans to question his mental and emotional well-being. The 31-year-old singer uploaded a string of unsettling mirror selfies, paired with a cryptic caption that many interpreted as a cry for help—reigniting rumours of substance abuse, marital strain, and links to a controversial religious group. The now-viral Instagram carousel featured exaggerated facial expressions and an ominous caption:'U could point at my flaws Or u could recognize ur own lil b***🩸.' Justin Bieber shared a carousel of selfies in the bathroom on Saturday on Instagram. Image: Instagram Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Though some interpreted it as a sarcastic remark, many fans took a more serious view. 'He's clearly not okay,' one commenter wrote. Another pleaded, 'Why are the people around him not helping?' According to TMZ, this latest upload comes amid a wave of speculation about Bieber's private life. Earlier this year, the singer appeared visibly out of sorts during wife Hailey Bieber's 'Rhode' skincare event, prompting renewed questions about his mental state. In May, Bieber also shared another Instagram carousel in which he was seen smiling with a large glass bong on his lap. While many viewed the post as a celebration of recreational drug use, his representativeshave denied this. A spokesperson told TMZ in February that 'the recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is absolutely not true,' emphasising that the artist is 'in one of the best places in his life,' actively raising his newborn son with Hailey and working on new music. Still, that reassurance hasn't quieted the speculation. TMZ delved deeper, reporting on a string of issues affecting the singer, including financial instability, alleged tensions in his marriage, and his ties to a controversial religious institution—widely believed to be Hillsong Church or a related offshoot. Bieber, a long-time follower of pastor Carl Lentz (who was dismissed from Hillsong amid scandal), has in the past credited the church with helping him through personal turmoil. But critics argue that the church's influence may be unhealthy and cult-like.
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Justin Bieber sparks fresh concern over drug use as fans spot worrying detail in snap
Mollie Quirk Published: Invalid Date, JUSTIN Bieber has sparked fresh concern over alleged drug use as fans spot a worrying detail in a new snap. The hitmaker, 30, who welcomed his first child into the world last summer, has been seen smoking from what appeared to be a bong in new snaps. 6 6 6 6 6 Justin shared a selection of photos from a recent getaway in a studio surrounded by mountains. The snaps saw the dad-of-one recording music in a secluded studio, with some of the snaps further fueling worry surrounding his health. One snap saw Justin's pal, Australian singer Eddie Benjamin, playing guitar. In the snap though, Justin was visible through an open door with a worrying detail quickly spotted. In the left corner, Justin appeared to be smoking from a bong. Another photo then saw Justin on a patio with a mountain view behind. The snap seemed rather normal, though a bong could be seen on the floor, which comes as speculation around Justin's health continues to run rampant. CONCERNED FANS Commenting on the snaps, fans were extremely concerned. One person said that they hated to see Justin "smoking weed all the time". "Hitting bong outside," added a second. Justin Bieber posts alarming video smoking after sparking concerns with bizarre behavior as fans beg star to 'get help' "Stop doing this," demanded a third. A fourth person then wrote: "JUST IN….Another unhinged post." While a fifth said: "You in the background taking a bong." And a sixth added: "Who picks their lose her friends over there young son, and wife." Justin and Hailey's Relationship Timeline Photo credit: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP Justin and Hailey go way back as she met him when she was just 12 years old during a 2009 Today show appearance. In 2011, the two were pictured together along with Hailey's father at Justin's Never Say Never documentary premiere where she called him "cute." November 2014 Dating rumors began after they were spotted together at a Hillsong Church service. During an interview with E! News, Hailey denied they were together. They also rung in 2015 together. December 2015 Dating rumors surfaced again after Hailey was spotted on vacation with Justin and his family in Tulum, Mexico. Later that month, they rang in the New Year again, but this time, they were spotted kissing at Leonardo DiCaprio's New Year's Eve party in St. Barts, according to People. February 2016 Justin and Hailey acknowledged that they were in a relationship, but made it clear they were not exclusive. During another interview with E! News, Hailey said that the pair were "not an exclusive couple," adding, "relationships at this age are already complicated, but I don't really like to talk about it because it's between me and him." As for Justin, he spoke with GQ saying that Hailey was "someone I really love" but starting a serious relationship was not a good idea because there was already "a lot that [he had] to commit to," including a tour. Later that year, the pair split in a "very dramatic excommunication," according to People. June 2018 After Hailey and Justin called it quits, he got back together with Selena Gomez, but in May 2018, the pair called it quits for good. A few weeks later, Justin got back together with Hailey. "The common denominator, I promise you, is always church," Hailey told Vogue, via People. "By then we were past the drama. I just gave him a hug. By the end of the conference, he was like, 'We're not going to be friends.' I was like, 'We're not?' " The pair went on to have a number of PDA-filled public appearances, confirming their relationship was back on. July 2018 Justin and Hailey announced their engagement. He popped the question during a romantic dinner in the Bahamas while they were on vacation, according to People. "Hailey I am soooo in love with everything about you! So committed to spending my life getting to know every single part of you loving you patiently and kindly," Justin said in an Instagram post. September 2018 On September 13, 2018, Hailey and Justin tied the knot during a courthouse wedding in New York City. November 2018 Hailey changed her last name on social media from Hailey Rhode Baldwin to Hailey Rhode Baldwin Bieber. September 2019 Hailey and Justin had a wedding ceremony in front of their friends and family at the Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina. But despite the concern around Justin's health and alleged drug use, his representative insisted back in March that he has never been better. 'HARD DRUG USE NOT TRUE' "The recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is absolutely not true," his rep told TMZ earlier this year. They added how the rumors about how Justin is doing is "exhausting and pitiful". They then noted how it "shows that despite the obvious truth, people are committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive". His rep then said how the singer is "in one of the best places in his life". This comes after Justin sparked concern for his health after looking "hollow-eyed" on several outings. And back in March, Justin was even slammed by fans after sharing a selection of snaps of him smoking a bong. Sharing the slew of snaps on his Instagram page at the start of March, Justin could be seen wearing baggy clothes while sitting on a bike as he inhaled from a bong. 6
South China Morning Post
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
What is Churchome, Justin Bieber's church of choice? Formerly part of the controversial Hillsong Family of churches, it may be driving a wedge between the ‘Baby' singer and wife Hailey Bieber
Amid growing concerns for Justin Bieber's well-being, it's rumoured that the 'Yummy' singer and his wife of more than six years, Hailey Bieber , could be heading towards a split because of increasingly different attitudes to their church. Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber have been married since 2018. Photo: @justinbieber/Instagram In January, fans were shocked when Bieber, 31, appeared to unfollow his wife, 28, on Instagram, though the 'Baby' singer clarified hours later, amid much scepticism, that he'd been hacked. 'Someone went on my account and unfollowed my wife,' the hitmaker claimed on his Instagram Story. Advertisement Fans have also expressed concern about Bieber's health owing to his changing appearance and rumours of his abusing drugs, which he has denied, calling the speculation 'exhausting and pitiful', per TMZ. A message Justin Bieber posted online. Photo: @justinbieber/Instagram A few days after denying claims of substance abuse, Bieber shared a video of himself on Instagram smoking out of a bong and rapping about getting high. On March 16, Bieber shared a lengthy post on his Story about sensations of 'drowning' and 'feeling unsafe'. The 'Never Say Never' singer welcomed his first child, son Jack Blues Bieber, with Hailey in August last year . The couple are known to be devout Christians, with the former model even once admitting that if it weren't for their shared faith, she would not be in a relationship with Bieber. Carl Lentz was ousted from Hillsong Church in 2020 following a scandal. Photo: @carllentz/Instagram 'It's our faith,' Hailey said in a 2021 interview with comedian Yvonne Orji. 'It's what we believe in. If we didn't have that, we wouldn't even be here. We wouldn't even be together.' Bieber and Hailey were previously members of the controversial Hillsong Church, attended by Hollywood A-listers such as Chris Pratt, the Kardashians , Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas and more. Bieber was particularly close to the church's infamous pastor, Carl Lentz, who was fired from the church for infidelity in 2020.
South China Morning Post
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Who is Cully Pratt, older brother of Marvel's Chris Pratt?
Over the years, Pratt has made a name for himself starring in franchise films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World. But the actor has had his fair share of controversies too, including his rumoured involvement with the Hillsong Church, disgraced for alleged child sexual abuse and racial discrimination. Cully Pratt is Chris Pratt's older brother. Photo: @cullypratt/Instagram But did you know that Pratt has an older brother, Cully, who was linked to an extreme far-right militant group in 2021? Here's everything to know about Chris Pratt's older brother, Cully Pratt. Cully Pratt is a retired sheriff's sergeant Cully Pratt is a retired sergeant-sheriff. Photo: @cullypratt/Instagram Daniel 'Cully' Pratt announced through a 2022 Instagram video that he was retiring as a sergeant with the Solano County Sheriff's Office. 'Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who wished me farewell on social media. I loved [working] at the Solano [County] Sheriff's Office and I truly appreciate your support!' he wrote in the caption. He's also an artist Cully Pratt dabbles in painting and woodworking. Photo: @cullypratt/Instagram In his retirement announcement, Pratt asked his followers to 'hit me up if you're interested in any custom artwork, antique furniture-rehab, oil paintings, pet portraits, interior and exterior wall murals, DIY project assistance, woodworking.'
