Justin Bieber’s Mental Health Issues Are Longstanding And His Timeout, Tour Cancellation Should Be Respected

Justin Bieber’s Mental Health Issues Are Longstanding And His Timeout, Tour Cancellation Should Be Respected //

Justin Bieber recently canceled the final 14 dates of his “Purpose World Tour,” and is now taking a break from his music career//
 for the health of his “mind, heart, and soul.” Based on Justin’s subsequent emotional open letter to fans explaining his reasons//
 and his fraught history — it is abundantly clear that the Canadian needs a timeout. However, as is typical with anything Bieber-related,//
 reaction to the pop superstar’s tour leg cancellation from most media, some celebrities, and many in the toxic culture//
 that is the blogosphere, has been predictably negative. Some of that disaffection was a result of TMZ sensationalizing Bieber’s//
 connection to Hillsong Church and their tacit claim that the megachurch was behind the singer nixing his last tour leg.//

However, both Justin and Hillsong have since denied the church was the reason for the abrupt ending of the “Purpose Tour.”//

In addition, Bieber’s reps released official statements revealing the prince of pop was “super exhausted” after his global trek.//

It shouldn’t be too hard for the reasonably minded to grasp that a young artist who only pulled out of 14 shows//
 after performing a whopping 152 concerts in 16 months, and who has been on tour for six out of the eight years of his career,//
 has evidently reached burnout. By publicly admitting he has limitations and needs to press pause on key aspects of his life, //

 Justin re-sparked wider conversations about mental health and the importance of self-care. While the disappointment expressed//
 by those who had tour tickets is understandable, much of the criticism, disrespect — and in some cases, online abuse//
 directed at the singer after the tour announcement was indicative of a recurring theme when it comes to the Biebs. Namely, //
 that whenever the pop superstar tries to talk about his mental and emotional health, he has been accused of being “selfish,” a “brat,” //
 “lazy,” or some other pejorative. Such dismissal is especially ignorant and unacceptable given that this isn’t the first time//
 that Bieber has opened up about his mental/emotional health issues. In May 2016, the singer showed signs of the strain of fame//
 when he shared his feelings of discomfort at “fake” award shows in an Instagram post. That same month, //
 the pop icon said he would no longer take pics with fans because the way he is frequently dehumanized//
 by frenzied selfie-hunting fans left him feeling like a “zoo animal.” In March of that year, Bieber canceled “Purpose” tour meet-and-greets//
 with fans after an encounter with a dangerous “fan” and instances of harassment from members of the public during his tour stop in Boston.//

In an Instagram statement, Justin revealed mental health issues were behind his decision. He revealed that the meet-and-greets left him “feeling so drained//
 and filled with so much of other people’s spiritual energy that I end up so drained and unhappy.” At the time Bieber explained, //
 want to make people smile and happy but not at my expense. I always leave feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression.”//
 All of these declarations were treated with anger and derision by the blogosphere, most media, and some of the public.//

Clearly, the media’s largely non-sympathetic and non-contextualized coverage of the singer’s history of mental health problems//
 has played an undeniable part in shaping that collective non-understanding. Back in February 2016, //
 the Biebs admitted in his cover interview with GQ magazine that he previously took Adderall, a stimulant, //
 to help him concentrate on work because of longtime sleep pattern problems.//