Justin and Hailey Bieber’s seemingly glamorous life may be cracking under the surface. On January 27th, the pair were spotted after a tense dinner date at Funke restaurant in L.A. Though photographed holding hands, the Biebers looked far from happy.
Days later, Justin posted seemingly cheerful Instagram photos from the same outing, prompting fans to speculate that he was desperately trying to project an image of happiness amidst growing rumors of the couple’s impending split.
An inside source tells In Touch that 27-year-old Hailey has hit a breaking point with her 29-year-old husband, Justin. “Justin is clingy and he relies on her so much for his emotional and psychological wellbeing,” reveals the source.
There are times Hailey just wants to end it so she can be on her own again.
The source adds that constant fights over old flames, past bad behavior, and their disagreement on when to have kids have plagued the couple, leaving friends surprised they’ve made it this far.
It Was Never Easy
After a whirlwind three-month romance, the couple tied the knot in September 2018 (they also briefly dated in late 2015). Hailey has been open about their marital struggles, admitting they were both incredibly young when they said “I do.”
“Marriage is very hard,” she candidly told Vogue shortly after their NYC courthouse wedding. “That is the sentence you should lead with. It’s really effing hard.” In a 2022 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she reiterated that their union requires “a lot of work.”
The source notes that neither truly grasped the complexities of marriage, but Hailey has outgrown Justin in terms of maturity. “Hailey’s grown into a strong individual,” the source says. “As a model, she’s learned how to deal with stress, whereas Justin has been babied his whole life. Hailey sees him as an immature kid at times.”
Troubled Past and Health Woes
The Biebers’ marriage faced added stress in 2022 when both suffered significant health scares – Hailey experienced a ministroke, and Justin’s Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis left him partially paralyzed.
These illnesses put a strain on their dynamic. “Justin’s always relied on Hailey to bolster him up whenever he needed it, which was most of the time, and she couldn’t do that because she had to look after herself. It made her realize how one-sided their relationship was,” the source explains.
Justin’s history as a bad boy continues to haunt them. From his infamous 2013 mop bucket urination incident to the vandalism charges for egging his neighbor’s house, Justin’s past indiscretions haven’t been forgotten.
“Justin’s sorry for some of the shocking things he’s done,” the source says. “He blames being thrust into fame too young and having ‘yes men’ surrounding him. Still, the image of him as an egg-throwing brat has stuck, which is frustrating.”
Justin’s reputation as a heartbreaker also causes friction. “He had many flings when he was younger, and was the love-’em-and-leave-’em type,” the source confides. Hailey bristles at reminders of these past conquests, leading to heated arguments.
Of course, his on-again, off-again eight-year relationship with Selena Gomez remains a major sore spot. “It bugs Hailey that Selena got there first, and that Justin went back to Selena when they initially broke up,” the source says.”For a long time, Hailey thought she was second choice.”
On Different Paths
Whispers suggest that Hailey is emotionally checked out of the marriage and wants to leave now while she has time to rebuild her life. Last spring, reports surfaced of a potentially inappropriate emotional connection between Hailey and a male friend (who also knows Justin). “She swears it’s not romantic, but straddles the line of what’s appropriate in a marriage,” an insider commented at the time.
Adding to their problems is the issue of kids. Justin has long stated his desire for a family, even telling Ellen DeGeneres that Hailey “wasn’t ready yet.” This delay bothers Justin, but according to the source, Hailey questions if he’s mature enough for fatherhood and fears getting saddled with all the responsibility.
Rough Road Ahead
Talk of divorce could get messy – the source spills that Justin and Hailey don’t have a prenup. While she has an estimated net worth of $20 million, Justin is reported to be worth a staggering $300 million. The lack of legal protection could trigger nasty fights over his vast fortune.
“Even if they split amicably, all the best intentions could fall away when they start talking about money and who gets what,” says the source. However, Hailey remains determined to save her marriage. “She really doesn’t want to throw in the towel,” the source says. “She’s not a quitter and is willing to put in the effort.” Friends are hoping Justin can get his act together before it’s too late.
The source sums it up: “He can’t imagine his life without Hailey.”
