Pop star Justin Bieber has been the subject of endless public scrutiny, whether it is social media scandal, rumors about his marriage to Hailey Bieber, or financial reports. There is a new documentary called TMZ Investigates: What Happened to Justin Bieber that finally offers new insight into his recent financial moves — including why he auctioned off his music catalog.
Confronting a Financial Meltdown
In accordance with a report by TMZ, Bieber was on the verge of a “financial collapse” in 2022. Sources familiar with the singer say the situation became so bad that he was left with no choice but to sell his music rights. The deal, which is reported to cost $200 million, was a step taken to restore financial stability.
Although the urgency was there, not everyone in his entourage supported his decision. “Justin’s manager Scooter Braun attempted to advise him that it was not a good idea to sell this early on in his career, and to at least hold off until January 2023 to qualify for a tax deduction,” a source informed TMZ. Bieber refused, however, and decided to seal the deal by December 2022.
With this action, Justin was the youngest artist in history to sell his entire music catalog.
Bieber was initially discovered by music executive Scooter Braun when he was just 13 years old after Braun discovered his videos on YouTube. Their collaboration lasted almost a decade until 2023. Their breakup followed years of working together that shaped Bieber’s music career.
Justin Expresses Emotional Burden
In the wake of these revelations, Justin also spoke to the emotional burden of criticism and attention online. In an intimate Instagram Story shared last month, he penned:
“Every morning I wake up thinking perhaps I am too broken for God to use me in this amazing story of life. Yet God uses me (broke and all) every day. Just like he uses you. Our life is noteworthy. God has a plan for us. Nothing excludes us from living God’s good plans in our life. I am deciding today to let God’s grace and love lead my day and provide me with insight and not make my day about proving myself. You’re welcome to join me if you desire. This message seems to express the emotional pressure he’s experienced during both his professional and personal crises.”
