Justin Bieber Denies Drug Rumors Amid Resurfaced DMX Interview

Justin Bieber has done it again. The “Peaches” singer sparked online debate when he posted a video that is widely considered a veiled message against drug use on Instagram on Sunday. The post in question was a screenshot he reposted from the account of a Los Angeles-based cannabis retailer called Gassy. In the clip, rapper DMX (who died in 2021) tells lifestyle guru Iyanla Vanzant in no uncertain terms that he’s happy to live his life as he sees fit, even if that means getting high.

DMX shared the image from a 2013 episode of Iyanla: Fix My Life in which the late rapper, then 42, is confronted by Vanzant about whether he wants to “live sober.” The grandmotherly figure’s query is met with an unfiltered response. “No weed, no drinking, nothing? Why would I?” he counters. “If I don’t do it, then I’m telling you that I don’t need it, why would I?” Vanzant answers by telling the rapper that if he did choose sobriety, he would be a “clear, pure vessel for the voice of God,” to which DMX replies: “I think I’m exactly where I need to be with God.”

Justin Bieber didn’t add any message to his Instagram screenshot, only posting it on Sunday morning without comment. This didn’t stop fans or the Internet at large from leaping to conclusions, however, with many publications trying to extrapolate what Bieber’s posting of the image could mean and how it fits into the singer’s recent life and career choices.

Bieber’s Feelings on the subject of marijuana

For some, it was an obvious expression of Bieber’s feelings on the subject of marijuana, with the singer publicly posting images of himself with bongs and smoke earlier this year. But many others saw it as more of a coded attempt to raise questions of personal agency and faith in the minds of those who saw it. And, of course, it wouldn’t be the first time Justin Bieber posted intentionally “controversial” content to social media.

The artist has been open about his faith and relationship with God for years and even released a documentary in 2018 about his spiritual path and his association with pastor Judah Smith and the Churchome community he leads. This also coincides with fans, both new and old, being more understanding of Bieber’s more laissez-faire attitude about his consumption of recreational marijuana.

Justin Bieber’s rumors of abusing illegal drugs

While he’s regularly shared candid posts smoking and being with friends in the past years, the fact is that Justin Bieber can smoke all he wants, as it’s now completely legal in the state of California, where he and his wife, Hailey Bieber, live with their son, Jack Bieber. A representative for Bieber also put rumors of him abusing illegal drugs to bed earlier this year, with a rep for the artist telling TMZ in February: “The recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is not true.”

In the same statement, the representative noted that Bieber was in one of the best places in his life, pointing to fatherhood and his music as positive outlets. The representative for Bieber also noted that the pop star had undergone a “massive transition” over the past year. According to the statement, Bieber “purged people from his life that no longer aligned with him in his personal or business life, from friendships to managers and business partners, etc.” This period of self-actualization appears to be reflected in the music.

Justin Bieber released his seventh studio album, Swag, on July 11 to much fanfare. The singer, who has previously dedicated albums to his struggles with self-image and feeling at odds with the world and his relationship with his wife, takes on his growth as a person, love, and fatherhood on Swag. One element of the album that caught many fans by surprise was its therapy-style comedy interludes featuring YouTuber and social media personality Druski.

On Swag, the social media personality interrogates Bieber on everything from what keeps him up at night to whether he’s still shy, leading to some hilariously candid and introspective answers from the singer. The album has been panned by some as immature, with Druski’s interactions, but it seems that Bieber is in a new chapter of his life, one he’s not afraid to be honest or potentially controversial.

Justin Bieber hasn’t announced any official plans for a tour to support his new album yet, although there have been some reports of a possible tour of Australia in the future. However, when asked for comment by Rolling Stone, Frontier Touring representatives noted that they have “no information” about any potential tour dates for Bieber at the time of writing. The singer last toured the world with his Justice tour before he was canceled mid-way through in 2022 due to Justin’s health.

Fans are crossing their fingers, but with the success of the album, his new focus on family and music, and the clarity he has on his self-identity, it’s not inconceivable to think that Bieber could be touring in the not-too-distant future, but with a greater sense of intention. For now, whether the DMX post is meant as a statement or not, Bieber has raised a few eyebrows and provoked discussion in the most Bieber way, without saying a word.