Justin Bieber Is Ripped And Real For ‘Men’s Health’ Cover: Talks Life, Love, Growing Up
Justin Bieber’s near-permanent state of shirtlessness now sees his ripped, fit form on the cover of Men’s Health April issue.
Titled “The Reinvention of Justin Bieber,” the prestigious health and fitness bible gives the superstar a multi-page spread, along with an additional editor’s note and a detailed review of the singer’s workout. He’s lifting weights five times a week!
The issue features 10, unretouched pictures of Bieber’s, toned body captured by lensman Peter Hapak, two behind-the-scenes videos, while the Biebs opens up about growing up in the spotlight, relationships, making mistakes and moving past them, Rubik’s Cubes — and just about anything else you can think of.
“Honestly, I just want people to know the real me. I feel like there’s a lot of things that have been put out there that are not necessarily true,” the heartthrob says candidly in one of the videos.
Of his turbulent recent years, the then 20-year-old echoed sentiments expressed during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and admits, “I’ve done some things that might not have been the greatest decisions at the time. I’m growing and learning — I’m a human being.”
Justin also reflected on where he was a year ago. Literally.
“It’s time for me to grow up. This has really been a big year for me, as far as figuring stuff out,” he revealed. “This is almost like a full 180 from how I was. Yesterday — a year from yesterday — I was in jail.”
Now, it’s upwards and onwards. The singer added, “I aspire to be a class act.”
With the dust seemingly settled on the end of his on and off romance with former girlfriend, Selena Gomez, Justin offered pointers on what he looks for in a female. “I’m very much a relationship guy.”
He adds, “I like to bounce ideas off the person that I love. I like having a real connection.”
However, the Biebs is a young guy. So it will come as no surprise to hear that he thinks “jean shorts,” a “tank top” and “spandex” as the sexiest things a woman can wear.
Amid revealing talents such as solving a Rubik’s Cube “in less than a minute,” an ability to do “three double jumps in a row with a jump rope,” a bro-crush (“Ben Affleck’s supercool… his vibe is cool”), and his acknowledgement that the police raid of his former mansion over in Calabasas, California was “the first time” for an egg-raid, Justin also talked about how it feels to the focus of worldwide scrutiny.
“I had to grow up so quick,” he says, before adding, “And it was almost like I grew up for the public but I didn’t necessarily grow up.”
That’s quite an insight. Interestingly, in the editor’s note, he mentioned Bieber’s longtime publicist, Melissa Victor, said the singer “realizes it’s time to grow up, to become a man. He’s looking for a second chance.”
Of his teen star upbringing, Justin said, “There were things I had to do, as far as the way I had to make relationships, and conversation, but as far as actually growing up, there were a lot of things I missed out on.”
During the magazine’s two-day interview, the singer confessed he sometimes wishes that he could disappear.
“I wish I had the Batman thing where people didn’t know I was Bruce Wayne,” adding, “like I had a costume or something.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Justin Bieber interview without a Michael Jackson reference.
The Canadian noted he is a perfectionist like his musical hero, before musing, “I’ve always been different, and I haven’t been afraid to be different.”
Although Bieber 2015 is all about maturing, he told the magazine that he hopes a part of him doesn’t.
“There’s a part of me that I don’t ever want to grow up. I want to always remain… to have that sense of purity inside of me where I don’t… I don’t want to lose that sense of purity.”
For anyone wondering whether Bieber was photoshopped for his cover, the transparency of the shoot should remove spiteful doubts. The singer himself said of the photo shoot, “It’s not Photoshopped! For all you fools out there saying it’s Photoshopped!”
Meanwhile, Men’s Health have confirmed their images are real.
@Jslab425 No enhancement, no photoshop.
— Men’s Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) March 4, 2015
Word is OUT. @justinbieber fronts our April @menshealthmag issue. http://t.co/3h6vYShQN8. No Photoshop involved. I was there.
— Brian Boye (@brianboye) March 5, 2015
The April 2015 issue of the magazine arrives online March 10 and will hit newsstands on March 17.
Bieber’s cover comes amid widespread plaudits for “Where Are Ü Now” — his new song with Jack Ü’s Diplo and Skrillex — and just over a week before the 21-year-old tapes his Comedy Central Roast. It airs on March 30.
[Images via Peter Hapak/Men’s Health]
