Justin Bieber’s former friends think he’s part of a cult and his pastor has too much influence on him

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A new wave of concern has emerged around Justin Bieber’s inner circle, with former friends suggesting the singer has become entangled in a questionable religious group and that it's impacting both his personal relationships and business decisions.

The claims are brought to light in TMZ's latest documentary, 'What Happened to Justin Bieber?', which delves into the 'Baby' hitmaker's long-standing association with Churchome, a Beverly Hills-based megachurch led by Pastor Judah Smith.

Justin Bieber’s former friends express concern that he may be involved in a cult

Judah Smith, addressing the controversy in the documentary, brushed off the cult narrative with a dose of sarcasm: “What kind of a cult only meets once a month?”

Several insiders claim that Bieber, 31, has cut off longtime friends, including his best man and former creative partner Ryan Good, after he distanced himself from Churchome.

Good, who previously helped run Bieber’s Drew House clothing line, reportedly exited the church after questioning its practices and has not been in contact with the star since.

The documentary also details uncomfortable moments involving religious scrutiny. According to sources, Bieber and Smith confronted Good about his private life, and the singer also allegedly challenged former manager Scooter Braun, who is Jewish, over his lack of belief in Jesus.

Further fueling the speculation, the documentary touches on Bieber’s 2022 decision to sell his music catalog, a move some claim was prompted by financial instability. While Bieber’s team denies any suggestion of a financial crisis, a story published by The Hollywood Reporter in late April sparked similar concerns. 

Churchome has attracted several high-profile followers over the years, including Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger, Ciara and Russell Wilson, and members of the Kardashian family.

Internet reacts after Justin Bieber’s former friends claim he may be involved in a cult

Rumors swirling around Justin Bieber’s current circle have ignited a wave of concern and speculation online after former friends of the pop star allegedly implied he may be under the influence of a cult-like organization.

The internet response was swift, emotional, and divided, ranging from sympathy to conspiracy theories.

One wrote, “I feel like JB’s life will end in tragedy. It’s very sad,” while another said, “Man, it’s almost like the guy who went from Hillsong to Churchome is… susceptible to cults?”

A person said, “That explains why he went broke and had to sell his catalogue,” whereas someone else noted, “Cult might explain why Bieber’s broke.”

Amid the speculation, some called for empathy, with one writing, “Sad what's happening to him." “I think he’s just sick of being followed around. People just need to leave him alone,” another added.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.