Bieber, Bongs, and Belief: Navigating Fame and Fatherhood in 2025

Justin Bieber has found a way to create headlines for all the wrong reasons again, all without even saying a word.

On Sunday, the 31-year-old singer reposted an old clip from the late rapper DMX, which has fans on the internet asking questions and speculating.

DMX was featured in an episode of Iyanla: Fix My Life back in 2013. In the video clip, the rapper was being asked tough questions about sobriety and spirituality by the show’s host, Iyanla Vanzant.

The now-deceased rapper said at one point, “No weed, no drinking, nothing? Why would I?” to which Vanzant replied, “A clear, pure vessel for the voice of God.” In turn, DMX calmly replied, “I think I’m exactly where I need to be with God.”

Justin Bieber Posts DMX Video to Instagram Story

Bieber shared the clip on Instagram from the L.A.-based cannabis dispensary Gassy, and fans are having questions. He included no caption or remarks on the video, leaving the internet to imagine why he might have done so.

Social media has a way of always creating discussion, and Bieber has a checkered past with both sobriety and his spirituality. He was in the press several times in the past for different “rebellious” actions he would take as a younger star.

In recent years, he has attributed his Christian faith as being a huge part of his path to sobriety from previous substance use. He also publicly went to rehab a few years back for mental health, drug use, and overall burnout.

Bieber’s stance on sobriety and spirituality has changed dramatically over the years, going from partying in Cancun to devout Christianity. The singer has frequently said that he and his wife, Hailey Bieber, are more focused on raising their son, Jack, than partying like they were before.

Jack was born on September 21, 2021, and Bieber has been relatively low-key since. The internet exploded over photos that he has posted in the past that included him either with bongs or in very smoky environments.

His team has been very clear to the press in the past that while the photos could be misconstrued, Bieber is not doing anything illegal, much less dangerous.

A rep for the singer recently clarified the subject with TMZ, saying, “The recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is not true.” The rep for Bieber added that he is “in one of the best places in his life” and that he’s “happy, focused on Jack, and working on music.”

As for why Bieber has made such a change, the rep also told TMZ that his life last year “was transformative for him.” He continued by saying he had some business and personal relationships that he had ended that “weren’t serving him well.”

Marijuana is also a legal recreational drug in California, so again, while the Instagram content might raise some eyebrows, it’s not exactly illegal.

Justin Bieber Drops Surprise New Album, ‘Swag’

Justin Bieber surprise-dropped a new album, Swag, which was his seventh album, on July 11. Swag was well-received by the music critics and was a showcase of Bieber’s growth both as a husband and a father.

Fans got a look inside his personal life in tracks like “Holy,” which he sings to his wife, Hailey, or introspective songs such as “Heaven Can Wait” and the soulful record “Peaches,” where he raps about becoming a new dad.

Sprinkled in between some of the songs are therapy sessions between Bieber and social media personality Druski. These conversations provide comedic, yet also candid interludes on the album that add levity to the otherwise more serious subject matter on Swag.

Bieber has done a fine job creating a balance of self-reflection and humor throughout the new album, all while staying true to himself and what he is currently going through, mentally and emotionally.

Following the release of his new album, many are wondering if the album will lead to a tour. He is reportedly working on a possible Australian tour, but details are unclear as of this writing. When asked, Frontier Touring, a representative for the tour company, said they had “no information” when asked by Rolling Stone.

This would be the singer’s first since he canceled the Justice World Tour in 2022 due to health reasons. If the pandemic taught any of us anything, it was to expect the unexpected.

And Bieber might have exactly that in mind. As he currently focuses more on fatherhood, faith, and evolving musically, he has also gone more low-key with the fame and paparazzi. His Instagram shows a bit more downtime with Jack and a quieter, more mature Bieber than previously.

Maybe that’s why his DMX video post is getting the internet’s attention, especially now. Whether or not a tour is in the cards, Bieber seems ready for the next phase of his life, growth, and spirituality. And if his latest post on Instagram is any indication, he’s going to continue doing just that and remain candid as he navigates the tricky crossroads of fame, parenthood, and life as a 30-year-old man.

Justin Bieber might not be done saying just yet, and this post is proof.