Bieber Quietly Posts DMX Sobriety Clip as Tour Rumors Swirl

Justin Bieber is making headlines again. This time, the internet is buzzing after the pop superstar made a mysterious Instagram post that some believe is a veiled attempt to address rumors of his drug use. On Sunday, 31-year-old Bieber reposted a video from Iyanla: Fix My Life, a 2013 episode of the counseling show. The clip shows a sit-down between late rapper DMX and motivational speaker Iyanla Vanzant.

Vanzant asks DMX directly whether he wants to be sober. “No weed, no drinking, nothing? Why would I?” the rapper replies bluntly, without hesitation. She presses on, telling DMX that sobriety can make a person “a clear, pure vessel for the voice of God.” “I think I’m exactly where I need to be with God,” he says.

Bieber made no additional comment on the video. He didn’t post it with a caption of his own; instead, he simply reposted it from the Instagram of a Los Angeles-based cannabis dispensary called Gassy. For that reason, many speculated almost immediately, assuming that Bieber must have left that comment section wide open for a reason.

Others were quick to point out the “irony” of the post from the person who tweeted “LET’S TALK ABOUT JENNIFER LOPEZ.” Still others were far less cynical about the move, taking it as a confirmation of his personal beliefs around marijuana or at least an attempt to get a conversation going about freedom of choice, religion, and sobriety. Whatever Bieber’s motivation, it’s not the first time he’s alluded to his relationship with God or reflected on his spiritual growth.

Since coming to faith in 2014, Bieber has spoken often about God, his time in Churchome (the church pastored by Judah Smith that he’s long attended), and his overall connection to spirituality. For those familiar with his story, the post doesn’t feel out of place; it seems quite consistent with his previous comments.

Public Opinion, Legal Consumption, and a Comeback Tour?

Justin Bieber’s DMX comment, of course, also stands as another attempt to express his more lax relationship with recreational marijuana. In recent months, he’s been posting photos of himself with bongs and smoke on his Instagram stories, much to the chagrin of worried fans. While this is a common complaint, it’s worth remembering that recreational marijuana use is completely legal in California, the state Bieber now lives in with his wife Hailey Bieber and their newborn son, Jack Bieber.

Whatever the case, and despite the social media speculation, Bieber’s representative had to shut down rumors that the pop star had been abusing hard drugs earlier this year. In a statement to TMZ in February, the representative clarified, “The recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is not true.” They continued: “Justin is in one of the best places in his life where he is focused on being a good dad and making new music.”

The rep also told the outlet that Bieber had undergone a “metamorphosis” in the past year. They said he let go of many of his friendships and “business relationships” that didn’t reflect the artist he was in the process of becoming. And now, the source says, “The hardest person he’s had to let go is the old version of Justin.”

This process of personal refinement seems to have had an effect on his music, too. On July 11, Bieber unexpectedly released his seventh studio album, Swag, to critical and fan acclaim. The album addresses many of the topics he’s been vocal about in the past year, including his growth, love for Hailey, and his feelings on fatherhood. But it also delves into new territory, with a series of comedy bits led by social media personality Druski. On the feature, Druski takes the pop star on mock “therapy sessions” that reveal the parts of himself that have caused Bieber the most shame or embarrassment.

Fans of Bieber are divided on the swag move. Some feel he’s “embracing” his newfound masculinity, while others lament the loss of his sweeter voice in his earlier work. But either way, it’s hard to deny that Swag marks a bit of a departure for Bieber, one that embraces honesty and vulnerability as much as controversy and trap beats.

Swag is a genre-defying mix of ballads and club bangers, raunchy rhymes and introspective singing. But the album also features a “lost” Nirvana track, “Nobody Cares,” that’s been widely received as the real “full album” of its own. But even amidst all that chaos, there are songs like the wistful “Lonely,” which serves as a beautiful commentary on Bieber’s life and where he finds himself now.

And that brings us back to the real question: tour. While Bieber has not confirmed or denied any official touring plans to promote Swag, rumors have circulated about an Australian leg. But according to Rolling Stone, when they reached out to Frontier Touring for comment, a representative quickly clarified that the company has “no information” regarding upcoming tour dates.

His last world tour, the Justice World Tour, was abruptly canceled in the middle of 2022 due to Justin’s health. He had to take medical leave after a run of concerts and was unable to resume the tour. Justin is working to become more mentally healthy and enjoys the help of his loving wife and his newly expanded family.

Fans can only hope that Bieber will eventually hit the road again in support of the album. After all, he is very much in the right place — with God, his wife, and his son. This is the best he’s been in years, and it won’t last forever.