(NME)
Justin Bieber is revealing how fame has led him to struggle with depression.
The superstar is on the cover of the new issue of NME, which will hit newsstands on Friday, the same day his new album, Purpose, is released. Bieber confesses in the accompanying interview that one consequence of mega-stardom has been losing his own sense of purpose. And he finds himself tragically identifying with one late singer.
“People see the glam and the amazing stuff, but they don’t know the other side. This life can rip you apart. [I get depressed] all the time. And I feel isolated. You’re in your hotel room and there are fans all around, paparazzi following you everywhere, and it gets intense,” says Bieber. “When you can’t go anywhere or do anything alone you get depressed. I would not wish this upon anyone.”
The former child star goes on to explain, “I watched the Amy Winehouse documentary on the plane and I had tears in my eyes because I could see what the media was doing to her, how they were treating her. People thought it was funny to poke her when she was at rock bottom, to keep pushing her down until she had no more of herself. And that’s what they were trying to do to me.”
Reflecting on his rapid rise, Bieber notes, “I was a wholesome pop star who was so amazing who had nice hair and a [expletive] image that no one could ever live up to.” And then came “rebelling against everybody and everything, and being a normal 19 year old,” he says, referring to some of his controversial behavior. “So when all this happened people were like, ‘Woah, let’s rip him apart.'”
Further talking about how “the way the Justin Bieber brand was portrayed,” the singer gives an interesting comparison. “If you see Gandhi roll up a blunt, it’s different to seeing Ryan Gosling roll up a blunt. You wouldn’t give Ryan Gosling a hard time,” he argues.
Bieber stresses, “I just want people to know I’m human. I’m struggling just to get through the days. I think a lot of people are.” TELL US: What do you think of Bieber candidly speaking about how fame has affected his mental health?
