Justin Bieber's Manager Says His Breakdown Was 'Worse Than People Realised'
Scooter Braun reflects on the 'Sorry' singer's darker days...
Justin Bieber's personal struggles were well publicised between 2012 and 2015 as the singer's cookie-cutter image descended with excessive partying and multiple arrests.
While many dismissed his troubles as nothing more than 'bad boy' behaviour, his manager Scooter Braun has revealed it was much worse than the media ever portrayed.
Braun discovered a 12-year-old Bieber on YouTube back in 2007 and quickly managed him to superstardom, however he blames himself for letting things go off the rails, and speaks about that time in an interview with Wall Street Journal.
You know I try but I don't do too well with apologies
I hope I don't run out of time, could someone call a referee?
Cause I just need one more shot at forgiveness
I know you know that I made those mistakes maybe once or twice
By once or twice I mean maybe a couple a hundred times
So let me, oh let me redeem, oh redeem, oh myself tonight
Cause I just need one more shot at second chances
Yeah, is it too late now to say sorry?
Cause I'm missing more than just your body
Is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'm sorry, yeah
Sorry, yeah
Sorry
Yeah I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'll take every single piece of the blame if you want me to
But you know that there is no innocent one in this game for two
I'll go, I'll go and then you go, you go out and spill the truth
Can we both say the words and forget this?
Is it too late now to say sorry?
Cause I'm missing more than just your body
Is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'm not just trying to get you back on me
Cause I'm missing more than just your body
Is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'm sorry, yeah
Sorry, oh
Sorry
Yeah I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'm sorry, yeah
Sorry, oh
Sorry
Yeah I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
"I failed him day after day. We were living in hell because he was in such a dark place," he says. "It was worse than people realised."
“I have inconveniences, and other people have problems. Mine feel important, but they’re not. They’re not life or death. Justin’s stuff got to a point where it was a problem.”
The 'Love Yourself' singer was involved in many controversies between 2012 and 2015, with different accusations of reckless driving, egg-throwing and vandalism escalating to an arrest for driving under the influence in January 2014.
The world was pretty much on Bieber Watch for the duration of 2014 as he partied his way through troubles and controversies until he was arrested again that September for assault and dangerous driving.
Scooter reveals that during this time “Some of the biggest people in the industry, people invested in Justin’s career, told me, ‘It’s over. Focus on something else. That kid is done," although he refused to give up on the 12-year-old he first discovered.
“I made a promise to him when he was 13 that I would never give up on him. I plan on keeping that promise. He’s family. I think the relationship is more like a big brother, especially because he’s become a man."
Thankfully, Bieber managed to start afresh before things went too far and his musical return in 2015 with Purpose has seen him become even more successful than before thanks to an endless supply of massive hits and collaborations.
As his manager puts it, “I think he’s seen the worst of himself, and to watch him rise out of it was amazing.”
And we're so glad he's happy and thriving again!
Words: Ross McNeilage
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WATCH JUSTIN BIEBER'S 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN' VIDEO BELOW
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean? Hey-ey
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
Oh, what do you mean?
Said you're running out of time, what do you mean?
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
You're so indecisive, what I'm saying
Tryna catch the beat, make up your heart
Don't know if you're happy or complaining
Don't want for us to end, where do I start?
First you wanna go to the left, then you wanna turn right
Wanna argue all day, making love all night
First you're up, then you're down and then between
Oh, I really wanna know
What do you mean? Oh, oh
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean? Hey-yeah
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
Oh, what do you mean?
Said you're running out of time, what do you mean?
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
You're overprotective when I'm leaving
Tryna compromise but I can't win
You wanna make a point, but you keep preaching
You had me from the start, won't let this end
First you wanna go to the left, then you wanna turn right
Wanna argue all day, making love all night
First you're up, then you're down and then between
Oh, I really wanna know
What do you mean? Oh, oh
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean? Hey-yeah
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
(I wanna know)
Oh, what do you mean?
Said you're running out of time, what do you mean?
(Oh baby)
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
Oh, oh (this is ours baby, yeah)
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean?
(You're so confusing baby) Hey-yeah
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
(Be more straight forward)
Oh, what do you mean?
Said you're running out of time, what do you mean?
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?