Strange Things About Justin And Hailey Bieber's Relationship

The following article includes references to addiction.

As Beliebers everywhere may well remember, this celebrity relationship is one that was on-and-off for years before escalating very quickly in the summer of 2018. After just a month of over-the-top, coast-to-coast PDA, Justin Bieber proposed to Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin) while on vacation in the Bahamas that July — and she, of course, said yes. Around this time, an insider claimed to E! News that while Justin and Hailey had previously discussed marriage, the model had no clue it would come up so seriously so soon. That said, TMZ cameras caught the pair with matching gold rings on their all-important fingers that June, so it's not like they really worked to quell speculation before secretly tying the knot that September.

The couple known as "Jailey" may have had their fair share of naysayers and doubters around this time, and their first year of marriage was admittedly difficult — but Hailey and Justin have proven they're both in it for the long haul. "I learn new things about him and about myself and about our relationship all the time," Hailey told Elle in 2021. "Do we have little fights and stuff that we have to work through sometimes? Yeah, of course, but it really doesn't ever feel like work, because I love him so much. I see forever with him."

All that said, their quickie engagement isn't the only bizarre thing about these two lovebirds. Here are the strangest things about Justin and Hailey Bieber's relationship.

Hailey Bieber was linked to Drake, a fellow Canadian and casual pal of Justin Bieber, in May 2016. People reported that Drizzy and Hailey got cozy at a Memorial Day party together, with a spy claiming the pair "were having a lot of fun together and were very affectionate." An insider later told the magazine, "Drake and Hailey are dating super casually, but he is really into her. They met through mutual friends and are taking things slow."

That June, insiders told Us Weekly that while the rapper was reportedly smitten with Hailey, she was still too hung up on Justin at the time to return any of his affections. What's more, another source similarly insinuated to E! News that while Hailey was supposedly gallivanting around with the Toronto-born MC, she was still pining for the "Baby" singer and upset that her ex was hooking up with actor Nicola Peltz. "[Hailey] always has been such a good friend to [Justin] and she feels disrespected by many things he has done lately," the source alleged at the time. "... Hailey wants to be with Justin but he is just always back and forth with her and that drives her mad."

Hailey Bieber was rumored to be Justin Bieber's rebound for years during his off-again phases with his first love, Selena Gomez. He appeared to treat both ladies so poorly — seemingly often concurrently — that it allegedly really took a toll on all three points in this high-profile love triangle.

In December 2017, sources close to Justin told TMZ that, while briefly reconciling with Gomez, he reportedly reached out to his future wife to apologize to her for mistreating her and breaking her heart in the past. Their contact was supposedly purely in the spirit of JBiebs making amends in an effort to live more openly and honestly within the Hillsong Church, but it allegedly triggered Gomez to flip out. After Justin and Gomez split for the umpteenth time in March 2018 (despite People reporting that April that he was still in love with Gomez and wanted her back), the Biebs began stepping out with Hailey again. 

Considering the "Sorry" crooner married Hailey just months later, it seems as though he'd already moved on from the "Back to You" singer by the time Jailey rekindled their romance.

Justin Bieber told GQ in February 2016 that he and Hailey Bieber weren't in a relationship — a fact he seemed to emphasize as much as possible, conceding only that they were friends who kissed. Fair enough. He also revealed why he refused to commit at the time.

"I don't want to put anyone in a position where they feel like I'm only theirs, only to be hurt in the end. Right now in my life, I don't want to be held down by anything. I already have a lot that I have to commit to. A lot of responsibilities. I don't want to feel like the girl I love is an added responsibility," Justin said, while reflecting on past mistakes in relationships as well as looking toward the future. He added of his future wife, "What if Hailey ends up being the girl I'm gonna marry, right? If I rush into anything, if I damage her, then it's always gonna be damaged. It's really hard to fix wounds like that. It's so hard. ... I just don't want to hurt her."

While Justin didn't want to hurt Hailey, we also suspect he did want the freedom to hook up with other people. Thankfully, it seems he's since truly turned a corner.

Hailey Bieber once admitted that because of the drama associated with her on-again-off-again-not-really-official relationship with Justin Bieber, they stopped talking for nearly a year in the past.

"Justin and I were friends for a long time. I met him when I was really young and he was one of my best friends," she told The Sunday Times in May 2018. "Everybody knows that at a certain point in time that turned into something else, but that just happens when you're 18, 19. It was what it was." Hailey added, "We went through a long period when we weren't friends," noting that they were able to move forward after learning from dating in the spotlight.

Hailey continued, "He's somebody I really cherish. Now it's a very mature situation. It's good." Of course, "good" may have been an understatement. Apparently, their rekindled relationship became downright fantastic in just a matter of months, considering their whirlwind engagement and marriage.

Though Justin Bieber seems to be in a good place these days, he almost faced a warrant for skipping out on his responsibilities in June 2018 to pucker up with Hailey Bieber in the Big Apple.

TMZ reported that Justin's former neighbor, Jeffrey Schwartz, requested a warrant be put out for the pop star's arrest for skipping a deposition in Schwartz's lawsuit against Justin. The lawsuit involved the singer allegedly egging Schwartz's Calabasas, California home and verbally harassing him. Though Justin was already criminally charged for incident — and paid a cool $80,000 in restitution in the case — Schwartz sued him in civil court for emotional distress and pain and suffering as the result of living next door to the Biebs. Justin reportedly had a deposition in the suit slated for June 22, but missed it, leading Schwartz's legal team to demand that the singer pay $1,000 for every day he didn't sit for questioning, as well as face jail time for his alleged negligence of his responsibilities in the case.

While Justin's legal team later told TMZ that the singer's attorneys provided alternate dates to sit for the deposition, Schwartz's lawyers supposedly went right to a judge to ask for a warrant instead of attempting to reschedule.

Hailey Bieber's father, actor Stephen Baldwin, may well be the reason Justin Bieber and Hailey got engaged in the first place. Fans on Twitter dredged up a video from 2009 of Baldwin introducing Hailey to Justin, telling the then-bowlcut tween, "We've been enjoying your music." Justin actually commented on the clip, calling it "amazing" in January 2016 (when he and Hailey were in an on-again phase).

Around that time, Baldwin told TMZ that he definitely approved of Justin dating Hailey, but added, "There's no label on it ... just friends. Mr. Bieber is a wonderful young man, hugely talented, has a whole lot of success ahead of him." When asked if JBiebs would have to ask his permission to marry Hailey, Baldwin giggled, "We're far away from that."

But it turns out the Biebs did, in fact, ask Baldwin for his daughter's hand. Sources told ET in July 2018 that the singer reached out to Baldwin weeks before popping the question. "Justin and Stephen have always had a close relationship, and Justin wanted to show his future father-in-law how serious he is about his future with Hailey," an insider claimed, adding that the two discussed "relationships, sacrifice, and religion" before papa Baldwin gave his blessing.

Well, this must have made hugs awkward: Despite Justin Bieber later tying the knot with Hailey Bieber, he was still boasting a tattoo of Selena Gomez, stylized to look like an angel, on his forearm when these two got engaged. However, a source claimed to The Sun that Justin didn't plan on keeping the tattoo and hoped to have it removed before getting hitched, saying, "He's tried to get it partially covered up before, but this time he's determined to get rid of it for good. He's going to his regular tattoo artist, Bang Bang, to get something inked over the top."

While it's remained unclear whether JBiebs went this route, as of this writing, he previously addressed his ill-thought-out ink, telling GQ in 2016, "This is my ex-girlfriend, I kinda tried to cover her face up with some shading, but people still know."

Despite the apparent drama, Justin insisted in April 2018 that he loved all of his body art, writing on Instagram, "If tattoos didn't hurt everyone would have them. ... Over a hundred hours of art work on my body and I wouldn't take back a single one. ... I've made my body a canvas."

Justin and Hailey Bieber's whirlwind engagement ended in what appeared to be a whirlwind wedding. A source cited by People in September 2018, about two months after the couple got engaged, claimed they'd secretly tied the knot, saying, "They went ahead and did it without listening to anyone." The day before the marriage report, TMZ obtained photos of the Biebers at a New York City courthouse that provides marriage licenses. There, Justin reportedly thanked a court official for "keeping it on the DL," though he didn't specify what "it" was. A witness claimed he was crying and telling Hailey, "I can't wait to marry you, baby."

According to TMZ, the pair were already planning to host another ceremony and party in front of family and friends, possibly at an estate JBiebs purchased in Ontario, Canada. An insider claimed, "They're going to have a blowout in front of God and everyone they love." 

While the married pair kept much of their wedding planning to themselves, Jailey indeed followed up their courthouse wedding up with a second ceremony held just after their first anniversary. In late September 2019, the Biebers tied the knot in front of their families, friends, and several other famous faces in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Despite reportedly getting their legal ducks in a row at the courthouse, Justin and Hailey Bieber were initially said to not believe they were legitimately married because no religious ceremony had been performed until the following year.

After reports emerged that she and Justin tied the knot, Hailey tweeted, "I understand where the speculation is coming from, but I'm not married yet!" The tweet has since been deleted. Meanwhile, a source told People that the model's denial was because she "feels a civil ceremony and their 'real' wedding are two separate things." A religious insider added, "What happened at the courthouse is a courthouse thing — a legal thing. But marriage is two people making a vow before God and the people they love."

When The Blast caught up with the Biebers in the Big Apple and asked about the wedding, Justin didn't respond and merely looked irritated at the question. The site also reported that they obtained a marriage license so they could actually have a ceremony and party whenever they decided to — which, as pointed out above, would happen in September 2019.

Justin and Hailey Bieber's marriage seemed like a whirlwind, and there's perhaps one obvious reason they seemingly rushed to the altar: They were saving themselves for marriage.

Justin admitted he'd been celibate for about a year before marrying Hailey (which, thanks to Cosmopolitan's quick math, means he was likely celibate while dating Selena Gomez, just months before he broke up with her and seemingly rebounded with Hailey). The reason? Vogue reported in February 2019 that sex addiction was the one vice Justin couldn't seem to kick completely, so he tried to go cold turkey as long as he could without bedding any beauties, including his then-future bride. Justin, unlike Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, reportedly believed that abstinence would bring him "closer to God."

"He doesn't ask us not to have sex for him because he wants rules and stuff. He's like, 'I'm trying to protect you from hurt and pain,'" Justin said of God. "I think sex can cause a lot of pain. Sometimes people have sex because they don't feel good enough. Because they lack self-worth. Women do that, and guys do that." He added, "I wanted to rededicate myself to God in that way because I really felt it was better for the condition of my soul. And I believe that God blessed me with Hailey as a result. There are perks. You get rewarded for good behavior."

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Justin and Hailey Bieber have been through a lot together, and they appear to have a pretty tight bond. But there have been times when Justin seemed a little checked out, and fans took notice. For example, during a Facebook live in 2020, Hailey answered a fan question about her and Justin's relationship being so much in the public eye. While Hailey expressed angst over mean comments she'd received on social media, Justin appeared to tune out completely. "People have made comparisons and just put me in a position where they've made me really feel like less of a woman," Hailey expressed earnestly, while Justin stared straight ahead, seeming to barely acknowledge his wife at all apart from the occasional hum of agreement. It was an odd moment that had fans rewatching years later and speculating about what Justin's body language might've meant.

And that strange non-reaction to Hailey's emotional comments wasn't the only time Justin seemed distant in the presence of his wife. In March 2023, Justin posted a series of Instagram posts depicting his birthday party, and Hailey only appeared in two of them. In one pic, Hailey is in the foreground while Justin and a friend aren't looking in her direction. In another snap, Hailey's back is to the camera as she hugs her husband, but he looks less than enthused, a blank expression on his face. The comments on the posts seemed pretty damning, with fans suggesting Justin might have been having a great time until Hailey showed up. Yikes!