The last few months have been controversial ones for Hailey Bieber, who was harassed pretty severely online after being accused of mocking her husband Justin Bieber’s ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez in a TikTok. This has reportedly created some challenges at home as Hailey struggles with her mental and emotional health. A source talking to US Weekly says that Justin is backing her up.
“It breaks Justin’s heart to have seen Hailey struggling emotionally the way she has been these past few months,” the insider said. “He loves his wife more than anything and knows she has a heart of gold.”
They added, “Justin knows her truth and despite what some people may say or think, he knows she only wants the best for people and has the best intentions… Justin knows that life is all about the ups and downs, and he knows she’ll get through this. But it’s been difficult seeing her upset and all he can do is be by her side and be there for her no matter what.”
On Wednesday, April 19, Hailey shared some of what’s she’s going through with her followers in her Instagram Stories.
“I like to make jokes about how I feel because sometimes it’s easier than admitting I’m having a hard time,” the Rhode founder wrote. “But truthfully since 2023 started I have had some of the saddest, hardest moments I’ve ever had in my adult life and my mind and emotions have been fragile to say the least. And I know so many other people feel the same way I feel, so just know you’re not alone.”
In addition to the Gomez drama, Hailey and Justin have been dealing with various health issues over the past year. In March 2022, Hailey she suffered “stroke-like symptoms” and had to be hospitalized; in November she shared she had an ovarian cyst. In the summer of 2022, Justin had to cancel his tour after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome which caused partial facial paralysis from which he is slowly recovering.
Hailey and Justin have withdrawn from public events for the most part and Gomez eventually spoke up, asking her fans to end the harassment.
“Hailey Bieber reached out to me and let me know that she has been receiving death threats and such hateful negativity,” Gomez wrote via her Instagram Story. “This isn’t what I stand for. No one should have to experience hate or bullying. I’ve always advocated for kindness and really want this all to stop.”
The model then thanked the Only Murders in the Building star for saying something in her own Instagram Story.
“I want to thank Selena for speaking out, as her and I have been discussing the last few weeks how to move past this ongoing narrative between her and I,” she wrote. “The last few weeks have been very hard for everyone involved and millions of people are seeing so much hate around this which is extremely harmful. While social media is an incredible way to connect and build community, moments like this only create extreme division instead of bringing people together.”
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.