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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Jill Lupupa

Justin Bieber takes centre stage following face paralysis health scare

Justin Bieber onstage at the Coachella Stage during the 2022 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival

(Picture: Getty Images for Coachella)

Justin Bieber has made his first on-stage appearance since his diagnosis with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

The 28-year-old Canadian singer performed to a crowd of fans in Italy on Sunday night, at the Lucca Summer Festival.

This was his first performance after two months of his ongoing face paralysis battle.

Model Hailey Bieber, formerly Baldwin, 25, remained backstage in support of her partner for his first performance following the health scare.

She posted a video of the Yummy singer onto her Instagram story, writing: “One thing I know for certain is you can’t keep this guy down…”

The singer could be heard telling the crowd: “I just want to say thank you so much for having me back. This is my first day back. So good to be here.

“I want to say thank you to each and every one of you guys for being a part of this tour. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Bieber was filled with gratitude, going on to say: “What a great, great evening. Wow. ‘I love you guys, this is the sexiest group of people I know.

“I’m just so grateful to be back, I love each and every one of you so much. Let’s go kill it.”

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome causes partial facial paralysis from a complication of the disease, shingles, nearby a facial nerve.

Bieber had previously posted a video of himself speaking to fans on social media where half of his face was unable to move by smiling, blinking, or flaring his right nostril.

The diagnosis had led him to cancel a string of world tour dates for his album, Justice, in June.

Now, the singer is set to continue his tour in Europe with dates in South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and South America before the end of this year.

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