Justin Bieber is desperately trying to shut out the mounting speculation about his relationship with Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs and focus on being a first-time father, but those close to him are fearful he is becoming increasingly stressed under the pressure.
Combs, 54, was arrested in New York last week and hit with an indictment accusing him of years of coercion and abuse while using blackmail and violence to control his victims.
The Baby hitmaker’s formerly close bond with the disgraced rapper has since come under intense scrutiny – with troubling videos of a then-15 year-old Bieber spending ’48 hours with Diddy’, as well as the pair partying together, resurfacing online.
Bieber, 30, who recently welcomed his son Jack with wife Hailey, 27, has not publicly commented, but fans have voiced fears over his ‘thin’ appearance.
Now sources tell DailyMail.com that the singer feels he has no one to talk to about the Diddy revelations and is ‘sailing these waters alone.’
Justin Bieber is trying to shut out the mounting speculation about his relationship with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and focus on being a first-time father, but he is struggling, insiders claim
The rapper, 54, was arrested and jailed in connection with a federal sex trafficking case which has since sent shockwaves through the music industry
‘Justin feels like there is no one that he can talk to that understands and, to be honest, he doesn’t even fully understand,’ the insider explained. ‘He was a kid.’
The source added that the fallout comes amid his current struggles to try and be a good parent having not had the best example from his own father, Jeremy Bieber.
‘Justin is stressed right now,’ the insider continued. ‘He has a baby boy and trying to be a good dad without having anything to reference what a good father is.’
Speaking to the fragile singer’s emotional state, the source added: ‘He is sailing these waters alone and everyone fears that if Hailey shows any struggles with being a first time mom then this is going to be incredibly difficult for Justin.
‘Diddy could not have happened at a worse time as he is trying to experience the joy of being a father with the pain of having to deal with all of this.’
Bieber announced the birth of his first child on August 23, and gave fans a glimpse of the baby’s tiny foot and wife Hailey’s hands.
‘WELCOME HOME JACK BLUES BIEBER,’ the proud dad penned in the caption.
The former Victoria’s Secret model also shared the post on her Instagram Story with the youngster’s name and various emojis.
Bieber, 30, was just a child when he forged a friendship with Combs (Pictured in 2010)
An insider told DailyMail.com: ‘There is no one that he can talk to that understands and, to be honest, he doesn’t even fully understand. He was a kid’
It came just weeks before Combs was accused of inducing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes days-long sexual performances referred to as ‘Freak Offs.’
According to the indictment, he would allegedly use force, threats and coercion to get the women to engage with male sex workers in the ‘Freak Offs,’ described as ‘elaborate and produced sex performances’ arranged and directed by Combs while he masturbated and often recorded them.
The indictment further stated that some ‘Freak Offs’ would last for days, requiring Combs and victims to receive IV fluids to recover from the exertion and drug use.
Diddy pleaded not guilty to charges against him and was denied bail, despite his legal team’s request for him to be released for $50 million and kept electronically monitored.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said the ‘Freak Offs’ stemmed from the star’s former on-again-off-again relationship with R&B singer Cassie, and were not coercive.
Prosecutors said they had interviewed more than 50 victims and witnesses, and are expecting the number to grow.
Bieber was just a child when he forged a friendship with Combs, and the singer most recently featured on the rapper’s track Moment, which appeared on his 2023 album The Love Album: Off the Grid.
Following the album’s release last October, Bieber reflected on his first encounter with Combs.
‘I remember going to my brother Diddy’s office to pitch him a song I wrote for him when I was like 14,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘Sadly the song was trash haha and it would be a hard no from him.’
He continued: ‘Fast forward to a few years ago Puff asked if I would freestyle something for his upcoming love album. Wild full circle moment, love you @diddy.’
The source added: ‘Diddy (seen in 2022) could not have happened at a worse time as he is trying to experience the joy of being a father with the pain of having to deal with all of this’
Creepy footage of Combs and Bieber first reemerged online after the rapper’s properties were raided as part of the ongoing sex trafficking investigation earlier this year
An insider previously revealed to DailyMail.com that Bieber deeply regrets having collaborated with the disgraced mogul last year, and would never have done so had he known the allegations that have since come to light.
They continued: ‘He had a long break from Diddy when he believes most of this took place and he had distanced himself from him.
‘He was featured on Diddy’s most recent album, and had he known any of this, there is no way he would have done it.’
In March, old clips of Bieber and Combs resurfaced shortly after Homeland Security raided the music mogul’s properties in Miami and Los Angeles.
One video saw Combs standing next to the young pop sensation, aged 15, while telling the camera: ‘He’s having 48 hours with Diddy, where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose.
‘But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.’
The hip hop star added: ‘I have been given custody of him. He’s signed to Usher and I had legal guardianship of Usher when he did his first album.
‘I don’t have legal guardianship of him [Bieber] but for the next forty-eight hours he’s with me and we’re gonna go full crazy.’
One clip showed a 16-year-old Bieber appearing anxious as he responded to Combs’ questions
In the video, Combs grilled Bieber about why he hadn’t spoken to him since his career took off
Bieber, wearing a black baseball cap and purple shirt smiles and looks up at Combs throughout the video, making small comments such as ‘yeah’ and ‘full crazy.’
The video was posted to social media and triggered an outpouring of criticism and concern.
Another resurfaced clip saw the rapper grilling a 16-year-old Bieber on why he hadn’t been speaking to him as much.
‘What’s up man, you good? Selling out arenas and everything?’ Combs asked the youngster.
‘Starting to act different, huh? You haven’t been calling me and hanging out the way we used to hang out.’
Bieber appeared anxious as he responded to his musical colleague.
‘I mean you tried to get in contact with me throughout all my… and what not… but you never got my number,’ he said. ‘I’m going to tell you my number.’
It comes after Justin and his wife Hailey welcomed their first child at the end of August
The couple named their son Jack Blues Bieber, which means the baby has the initials JB as is the family tradition
Another insider previously revealed to DailyMail.com that Bieber has been completely ‘thrown’ by the harrowing allegations and is grappling to make sense of them – especially given that he collaborated with Combs less than a year ago.
The source said of the fragile singer: ‘Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it so he has shut off.
‘So many people who helped to make him who he is were very close to Diddy and it has completely thrown him.
‘Justin hasn’t been responding on this since the home raids. He’s not going to.’
