Having been thrust into the spotlight at age 15 with a distinctive haircut and an acoustic guitar, it seems that more and more years in the fame game are giving Justin Bieber some perspective.
The “Sorry” singer recently told fans he won’t be doing any more meets and greets, nor will he be taking photos with fans in order to protect his “sanity”. Now, the 23-year-old has aired his feelings about “hollow” award ceremonies - immediately after returning from the Billboard awards where he picked up two awards for Top Male Artist and Social Media Artist.
Bieber certainly didn’t seem to soak in the moment when being presented with one award by Jessica Alba, explaining to the crowd he’s “not really a talker” and choosing to keep his acceptance speech short and sweet.
Later on, Bieber posted an image of a ruined church and greenery. In a lengthy caption accompanying the picture, he explained his self-consciousness at such ceremonies. The post came after he performed two songs at the ceremony to a mixed reaction.
“I try to think of it as a celebration but can’t help feeling like people are rating and grading my performance […] These award shows seem so hollow. I get the premise is to award people for their accomplishments but is it really? Because when I look in the audience I see a bunch of fake smiles so that when the camera hits them they look happy.
“[…] I am privileged and honoured to be recognised by my peers but in these settings I can’t feel the recognition. There’s an authenticity missing that I crave!”
Bieber hasn’t been shy of showcasing his vulnerability since his return to music over the last year. Fans have reportedly witnessed the singer fight back tears during his tour dates and he was seen crying following his MTV VMA performance last year.
