Justin Bieber is used to getting a lot of attention, but recently he appears to be attracting the kind Britney Spears got circa 2007.
That was the year that Spears volatile behavior led Spears’ father and lawyer to take personal and financial conservatorships to control her and her estate. Bieber, 22, has been exhibiting some head scratching behavior as of late.
It started in late March when Bieber announced he would cancel meet and greets — a decision which didn’t sit well with those who had paid a premium to schmooze with Bieber before his concerts. Requesting a refund for the meet and greet meant also surrendering concert tickets.
“I’m going to be canceling my meet and greets,” Bieber wrote in an Instagram post. “I enjoy meeting such incredible people but I end up feeling so drained and filled with so much of other people’s spiritual energy that I end up so drained and unhappy. Want to make people smile and happy but not at my expense and I always leave feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression . “
Bieber went on to say “The pressure of meeting people’s expectations of what I’m supposed to be is so much for me to handle and a lot on my shoulders. Never want to disappoint but I feel I would rather give you guys the show and my albums as promised.”
Then in early April, which we shall dub the “Dreadlock Days,” Bieber started sporting that hairstyle which the universe pretty much rejected.
Biebs heard the complaints and a few weeks later filmed a video mocking it.
Fast forward to May 7 when Bieber posted a photo of himself with his newly shorn locks and and what appeared to be a small tattoo of a cross on his face.
“Justin came in last night and decided on a small cross near the corner of his eye,” tattoo artist Jonboy told Us Weekly. “It represents his journey in finding purpose with God.”
On May 9 Bieber wandered around shoeless in Boston, where he is touring. The Internet was quickly flooded with photos of a barefoot Bieber.
There was the superstar crossing the street, walking through a park, and sitting on a bench with his earbuds in.
The new look inspired the Boston Globe to ask — rather tongue in cheek — “Is Boston particularly conducive to shoelessness? Does Bieber — in town for a pair of TD Garden shows — know something we don’t?”
On May 10 the singer posted a note indicating that he will no longer take pictures with fans.
“It has gotten to the point that people won’t even say hi to me or recognize me as a human,” Bieber wrote.”I want to be able to keep my sanity. I realize people will be disappointed but I don’t owe anybody a picture.”
His request didn’t stop someone from shooting video of what appears to be Bieber chilling out in a tree.
Fan reactions have ranged from some finding it a little nutty to others tweeting concerns such as “Justin Bieber looks like he’s on the brink of a breakdown tbh.”
The North American leg of Bieber’s “Purpose Tour” is scheduled to wrap up in New York City in July before it heads to Asia and then Europe. CNN has reached out to reps for Justin Bieber for comment.