Religion and relationships
Bieber identifies himself as a Christian, and has said he believes he has a relationship with Jesus, that he talks to him and that "he's the reason I'm here".[119] Bieber reflects his faith in a rap video with Brandon Burke titled #iPledge, in which he "talks candidly about his appreciation for the tenet of forgiveness in the Christian faith."[120] Regarding sexual abstinence, Bieber told Rolling Stone in 2010: "I don't think you should have sex with anyone unless you love them." He added that he does not "believe in abortion" and that it is "like killing a baby".[121][122] He described sexual orientation as "everyone's own decision,"[123] and has contributed to the It Gets Better Project,[124] which aims to prevent suicide among LGBT youth.[125]
Now residing in the United States on an O-1 visa,[126] Bieber has said he is not interested in obtaining U.S. citizenship and has criticized America's health care system. Praising Canada as being "the best country in the world", he cited its health care system as a model example.[121] According to Scooter Braun, Bieber says the Jewish prayer Shema Yisrael before every show he gives.[127] Bieber started dating actress and singer Selena Gomez in December 2010.[128][129] In January 2013, it was reported that Bieber and Gomez had ended their relationship.[130][131]
Endorsements and philanthropy
Aside from his career as a musician, Bieber has also ventured into the business world by becoming a venture capitalist and technology investor. Bieber made his first startupinvestment in 2009. Since then, he has been quietly investing millions of dollars in a dozen small technology start ups that include Stamped, Spotify, Shots, and game-for-good company SoJo Studios. He has said that he is not going to invest in something he does not like, as he has to believe in the product.[132][133] Bieber endorsed Adidas besideDerrick Rose and Venus Williams in 2012.[134]
Bieber supports Pencils of Promise,[135] a charity founded by Adam Braun, the younger brother of Bieber's manager. The organization builds schools in developing countries, and Bieber became manager for the organization's campaign in Guatemala. He currently serves as a celebrity spokesman for the organization[136] by running ads for the charity and its campaign "Schools4All",[137][138] and promising to visit schools that donate the most funds to the organization.[139] He takes part in the charity's fund-raising galas and donates parts of the proceeds from his concerts and line of fragrances "Someday"[140] and various merchandising to the charity. Bieber appeared in an animal welfare PSA for PETAencouraging people to volunteer at and adopt from animal shelters instead of buying pets from breeders or pet stores.[141] Bieber himself adopted a papillon named Sam from a shelter.[142]
Legal issues
Bieber has had several run-ins with the law around the world before his first arrest in 2014,[101][102] including when he was accused of reckless driving in his neighborhood in 2012 and charged in Brazil with vandalism in 2013.[101][143] One of Bieber's neighbours in Calabasas, California accused Bieber of throwing eggs at his home on January 9, 2014 and causing thousands of dollars of damage.[101][144][145] On January 23, 2014, Bieber was arrested in Miami Beach, Florida together with singer Khalil, on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), driving with an over six month expired licence and resisting arrest without violence.[146][147][148] Police said that Bieber told authorities he had consumed alcohol, smoked marijuana and taken prescription drugs.[101] Bieber was released on a $2,500 bond.[149] A toxicology report revealed that Bieber had THC (a principal constituent of cannabis) and the anti-anxiety medication Xanax in his system at the time of his arrest.[150][151]
On July 9, 2014, Bieber was charged with one misdemeanor count of vandalism in California for throwing eggs at his Calabasas neighbour's home in January.[145][152][153] Police earlier claimed that they had video footage of Bieber high-fiving friends after the eggs were thrown.[145][154] With Bieber pleading no contest to the charge, the Los Angeles County Superior Court sentenced him on July 9 to pay US$80,900 in restitution, serve two years' probation, complete twelve weeks of anger management and five days of community service in what the district attorney termed a negotiated settlement. Bieber had moved to Beverly Hills, California after the incident.[145][152][153]
On August 13, 2014, the January DUI case was settled with a plea bargain. Bieber pled guilty to resisting an officer without violence and a lesser charge of driving without due care and attention. Bieber was fined $500 and sentenced to attend both a 12-hour anger management course and a program that teaches about the impact of drunken driving on victims. Also as part of the plea bargain, Bieber made a $50,000 contribution to Our Kids, a local children's charity.[155][156]
On September 1, 2014, Bieber was arrested and charged with assault and dangerous driving near his hometown of Stratford, Ontario after a collision between a minivan and Bieber's all-terrain vehicle on August 29. Ontario police claimed that Bieber then "engaged in a physical altercation" with an occupant of the minivan. Bieber was released shortly and his lawyer blamed the incident on "the unwelcome presence of paparazzi".[157][158] On September 8, Toronto dropped an assault charge against Bieber originally brought up on January 29 for an incident with a limousine driver in December 2013.[159][160] In November 2014, he was ordered to appear in Argentina within 60 days by a Buenos Airescourt to give testimony on an alleged assault on a photographer on 9 November 2013.[161]
