Justin Bieber has come a long way from posting YouTube covers to selling millions of albums, touring the world and starring in documentary-style movies. He’s also become a philanthropist with his own fragrance line, invested in several technology startup companies and donated money to charities such as Pencils of Promise and the It Gets Better campaign for gay youth.
Bieber, who is a professed Christian, hasn’t escaped controversy over the years. He was the target of a paternity lawsuit in November 2011 and a sexual abuse case in May 2013, which he quickly settled after his mother testified on his behalf. In January 2014, he was arrested in Miami Beach for driving under the influence and resisting arrest without violence.
As the singer’s popularity grew, so did his controversies. In February 2013 he caused outrage in Amsterdam, where he visited the Anne Frank House and wrote that she, if she had survived, would have been a Belieber. He also faced backlash after he was photographed in March of the same year urinating on a fire hydrant and spray-painting “f— Bill Clinton” on a wall. He also came under scrutiny for an alleged visit to a brothel and the discovery of a stun gun on his tour bus in November 2013.
Since then, the 27-year-old has largely kept out of the limelight. He has continued to release pop songs, but his music has moved away from the teeny bop of early successes and toward an increasingly sophisticated R&B sound, with guest appearances by artists such as Drake and Usher.
While his last three studio albums haven’t been huge hits, he did score a summer Top 10 hit with this party-starter and a Christmas number one with this duet with Mariah Carey. He has also won two Grammy Awards, including the award for Best Dance Recording for his collaboration with Skrillex and Diplo on 2016’s “Where Are U Now,” and a country song for his single with Dan+Shay in 2021.
On Changes, he stakes his claim with a mature approach to R&B, eschewing the bubble beats of past hits and focusing on delicate, guitar-driven ballads that highlight his lithe, sensual voice. The breezy track “Umbrella” and the exquisitely slithery title track both feature his most accomplished vocal work to date.
He’s a global citizen who supports charitable projects such as the Pencils of Promise initiative to build schools in developing countries and donates his hair to help disadvantaged children, as well as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He has also taken part in the It Gets Better campaign for gay youth, and starred in a public service announcement for the anti-bullying organization Bully Beatdown. The musician has also endorsed a handful of products and founded his own clothing brand, Drew House. On the personal side, he’s been linked to model Hailey Baldwin.