Justin Bieber ‘depressed’ after alleged exploitation by friends: Exclusive

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(NewsNation) — Pop superstar Justin Bieber is facing one of the most difficult periods of his life, with sources revealing he is “depressed and angry” after discovering financial discrepancies tied to former friends and longtime associates.

Bieber is “going through a very tough time” and is “depressed and angry” at former friends and people who have worked with him for over a decade, music industry insiders say.

”There are a lot of discrepancies in his books — he has a new accounting and management team and they are finding out a lot … and there’s a lot missing,” one music industry exec said.

“He feels he was misled and used and he’s having a very hard time with that right now.”

The stress is taking a toll on his physical well-being as family and fans are deeply concerned after a series of photographs appeared showing the “Sorry” singer appearing thin, gaunt and haggard. 

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Justin Bieber’s unconventional upbringing, time with Diddy

Bieber burst onto the scene when he was just 15 with his hit “Baby.” He had been guided by megahit master Scooter Braun, who discovered him on YouTube. His Parents, Pattie Mallette and Jeremy Bieber, entrusted Justin to the music exec, who soon made him a star.

MIAMI – FEBRUARY 05: Sean “P Diddy” Combs, Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston perform at the BET SOS Saving Ourselves � Help for Haiti,� benefit concert and telethon at AmericanAirlines Arena on February 5, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Larry Marano/Getty Images)

But his teen years were unconventional — he spent time with Sean “Diddy” Combs at Combs’ “Flavor Camp” at the behest of record execs who wanted to give him street cred. Bieber has not spoken about that time in his life and has remained mum throughout Combs’ incarceration awaiting trial for charges of sexual misconduct (among other things). 

Justin Bieber cutting ties

Starting in 2023, Bieber seemed to clean house.

He parted ways with manager David Bolno, a good friend and employee of Braun’s, and his former business manager Lou Taylor (whom Britney Spears also fired last year) and sold the rights to his music to Hipgnosis for $200 million. 

Last year, he unfollowed Braun, who had orchestrated the Hipgnosis deal, on Instagram but is still technically under contract with Braun. 

Per People magazine, he can’t fully clean house.

“The star’s longtime manager, Scooter Braun, is still managing the musician, per the source. ‘[Bieber’s] still in a contract and won’t be out of it for a long time,'” they say. However, multiple sources told the magazine that Braun, 42, and Bieber haven’t worked together in months.

US businessman Scooter Braun (L) and Canadian singer Justin Bieber arrive for YouTube Originals’ “Justin Bieber: Seasons” premiere at the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. (Photo by LISA O’CONNOR / AFP) (Photo by LISA O’CONNOR/AFP via Getty Images)

He also announced he was considering legal action against his former business managers. 

When Bieber fired Taylor, he hired Edward White, who founded Edward White & Co., has sorted out financial messes for Johnny Depp and is the accountant for Jack Nicholson.

According to TMZ, Justin claims he “lost a ton of money as a result of terrible decisions made by (multiple) business managers.”

Bolno and Braun are known as artist managers, not business managers.

To date, no lawsuit has been filed, but my sources say the stress has taken its toll as Bieber continues to lose weight and spiral into depression.

“Every day, he finds something new — something else is missing, and he is just very angry. He feels taken advantage of. He is also smoking way too much weed,” the source said.

Bieber is a well-documented marijuana fan.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber are happily married

On the bright side, I’m told he is still happily married and that he is madly in love with his wife Hailey and his new son, Jack Blues, born last August.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 27: Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber attend the premiere of YouTube Original’s “Justin Bieber: Seasons” at the Regency Bruin Theatre on January 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

”Hailey supports him 100% — she was the driving force behind him getting his financials in shape and hiring a new forensic team,” the source said. “And he’s committed to his family. He really wants to be a good father to Jack.”

Reps for Bieber didn’t return calls or emails.

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