THE state of his seven-year marriage has been a hot topic this year, and Justin Bieber's erratic behaviour has been making headlines for months.
But the Canadian pop superstar has now furiously hit back with a surprise 21-track album, which insiders say "is his most personal and emotional record to date".
Swag, which Justin released yesterday is his first studio album since Justice in 2021 and covers everything from his struggle with fame to how he got his marriage to American model Hailey, 28, back on track.
And she made her feelings crystal clear, snapping back at their critics when she shared a photograph of Justin's album cover on Instagram with the caption: "Is it finally clocking to you f***ing losers?"
The pair have made no secret about their struggles and in 2019 revealed they were having couple's counselling in a bid to help them communicate better.
Justin, 31, shocked fans with his honesty less than a year into their union as he confessed: "Marriage is very hard. 'Personal and raw.'"
"We're really young and that's a scary aspect. We're going to change a lot. But we're committed to growing together and supporting each other."
In new song Walking Away, Justin reaffirms his commitment to Hailey, who is the mother of his ten-month-old son Jack.
Justin sings; "Baby, I ain't walking away. You were my diamond, gave you a ring. I made you a promise, I told you I'd change.
"It's just human nature, these growing pains — and baby, I ain't walking away."
He also takes a moment to praise his wife's achievements, following the storm in May where he was accused of mocking Hailey when she landed her first cover of American Vogue.
He wrote: "This reminds me of when Hailey and I got into a huge fight. I told Hails that she would never be on the cover of Vogue.
"Yikes I know — so mean. For some reason because I felt so disrespected. I thought I gotta get even."
Justin later deleted the comment but found himself widely derided by her fans.
On his new song Go Baby, Justin appears to address the issue and wrote the anthem in support of Hailey, who sold her Rhode skincare business to Elf Beauty in May for $1billion.
She remains chief creative officer of the brand and the couple were seen in Majorca this week while Hailey did a photoshoot for Rhode.
Justin sings: "That's my baby, she's iconic, iPhone case, lip gloss on it. Oh my days, she keeps them talkin', it's comedy, just block it."
Alluding to how commentary on social media affects her mental health, Justin continues: "So cry on my shoulder, just turn into me. "You better believe it that I can hold all the weight."
Marriage is very hard. 'Personal and raw.' We're really young and that's a scary aspect. We're going to change a lot. But we're committed to growing together and supporting each other
Justin Bieber
Other tracks including Daisies, Devotion, Things You Do and Yukon were written for Hailey, with Justin spending time in Iceland earlier this year putting the finishing touches to the record.
A source explained: "This is Justin's most personal and raw album. A huge amount has gone on in his life over the past few years.
"There are songs that were written for Hailey. It's a way Justin can express how he feels about her.
"There has been a lot of noise about their relationship and they have admitted it's not all been plain sailing. But this album is Justin's way of putting the rumours to bed and showing that his relationship with Hailey could not be in a better place."
Justin also uses Swag to open up about his recent posts on social media that have caused a stir, including putting up pictures with bongs, used to smoke cannabis, and making rambling statements with references to the class B drug ketamine.
In spoken word track Therapy Session, Justin is heard in conversation with social media influencer and actor Druski, who said Justin used social media to wind up his critics.
Druski explains on the track: "Even sometimes where I know you're trolling. They don't even understand it like, 'Oh my God, he's f***ing losing his mind.'"
Solemnly, Justin replies: "I have had to go through a lot of my struggles as a human. As all of us do, really publicly. And so people are always asking if I'm OK and that starts to really weigh on me."
His clashes with the paparazzi in America also appear on Butterflies and he uses a clip of him calling out a photographer on his song Standing On Business.
Filmed on Father's Day in the US, Justin was caught on camera being asked to be left alone, saying: "I'm a dad. I'm a husband. You're not getting it. It's not clocking to you. I'm standing business."
Justin also takes a swipe at the music industry and appears to reference cancelling the end of his 2022 Justice tour, after he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause facial paralysis.
'Cult like'
At the time he told fans: "My body is telling me I've got to slow down."
It was claimed the cancellation left him with a large debt, with reports alleging he owed promoter AEG £20.5million.
Justin's reps hit back at the idea he was in "financial distress" however and said any claims that suggested he was struggling were incorrect.
In the same year, Justin sold the rights to all the music he released before 2022 for £147million including his No1 hits Sorry, What Do You Mean? and Love Yourself.
Earlier this week, Justin finally settled a legal dispute with his former manager Scooter Braun, who is said to have helped pay his debts following the cancellation of the tour.
Justin will reportedly pay £24.8million back to Scooter, who launched Justin's career when he was just 13 years old.
On Butterflies, Justin appears to address the issue and sings: "You just want money.
"Money, that's all you want — you don't care about human beings."
On Glory Voice Memo, Justin also appears to allude to the music industry and how he was treated, singing: "I've been used and I've been beaten down.
"I've been let down and strung out. Too wild when I fall down, screaming out.
"But I, I reach out my hands, I'm begging you for mercy."
Faith also plays a huge part in the record. Justin uses his final track, Forgiveness, to pay homage to his religion with a spoken word reading from US pastor Marvin Winans.
Justin had been attending Churchome, a non-denominational group in Beverly Hills earlier this year.
This is Justin's most personal album. The songs are for Hailey… his way of expressing how he feels about her and putting the rumours around their relationship to bed
But the institution was rocked by claims it has a "cult-like culture," with some saying Justin's close relationship with the church's pastor Judah Smith had caused a fallout with his best friend Ryan Good.
Justin is understood to have distanced himself from Churchome in recent months.
Those close to Justin said fans may be waiting a while before they see him performing live, adding: "Justin is happy he's put the album out to the world and is just taking each day as it comes.
"He poured his heart and soul into this album. He has done it for his fans who have been with him since day one. Justin is incredibly proud of this record and will see where the future takes him."
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