Justin Bieber‘s tearful interview in which he discussed shielding Billie Eilish from the music industry has resurfaced amid Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs’ arrest.
The hitmaker, 30, has been in the industry since he was just 15 and over the years has battled mental health problems in the spotlight.
Back in 2020, when Bieber was promoting his album Changes and Billie Eilish had exploded on the scene, he reached out to her to offer industry insights and support.
‘I just want to protect her. I don’t want her to go through anything I went through. I don’t wish that upon anybody,’ Bieber said, fighting back tears.
Eilish was, at the time, enjoying a meteoric rise to fame on the back of her hit album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Speaking candidly about his broader struggles in the industry during the album promotional tour, Justin Bieber said: ‘It was bad… It was dark’
Eilish was, at the time, enjoying a meteoric rise to fame on the back of her hit album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. Pictured: The two singers together
Bieber’s professional relationship with Diddy early in his career has been back in the spotlight this week following Diddy’s arrest on sex trafficking charges.
Diddy was hit with an indictment accusing him of years of coercion and abuse while using blackmail and violence to control his victims.
He has also been accused of inducing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes days-long sexual performances referred to as ‘Freak Offs.’
Speaking candidly about his broader struggles in the industry during the album promotional tour, Bieber said: ‘It was bad… It was dark.
‘Think about how young I was and so impressionable and you have everybody telling me how awesome I am at all times… I just want people to understand the psychology of why I potentially could have problems in my life.’
Bieber said he had been ‘living in this shame, all this sort of stuff with my past’, but that he ‘wanted to be a good example’ for Eilish.
‘It was hard for me, being that young and being in the industry, not knowing where to turn and everyone telling me they loved me and turn their back on you in a second.
‘So if she ever needs me I’m gonna be here for her… I’m just a call away.’
Bieber encouraged people to ‘look at my story’ through his music, adding: ‘Hopefully my words can make a difference.’
Bieber and Diddy had a close professional relationship during the early years of the Baby hitmaker’s career
Bieber and Diddy had a close relationship during the early years of the Baby hitmaker’s career.
In one clip, Diddy stands next to Bieber, then 15, and tells the camera: ‘He’s having 48 hours with Diddy, where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose.
‘But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.’
The hip hop mogul, 54, adds: ‘I have been given custody of him. He’s signed to Usher and I had legal guardianship of Usher when he did his first album.’
Khloe Kardashian recalled crossing paths with Justin Bieber at one of Diddy’s star-studded bashes, where she revealed that ‘half of the guests were naked.’
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges against him last week and was denied bail, despite his legal team’s request for him to be released for $50 million and kept electronically monitored.
The artist is accused of using ‘power and prestige’ to lure and intimidate women under the ‘pretense of a romantic relationship.’
Prosecutors said they had interviewed more than 50 victims and witnesses, and are expecting the number to grow.