Justin Bieber Takes A Tumble During Purpose Tour, Fans Remain Supportive

During a recent stop on Justin Bieber’s Purpose Tour, the 23-year-old pop star takes a tumble, falling off the stage and sending the internet into a frenzy of amusement — or concern, depending on your feelings towards him.

Bieber was performing in Saskatoon, Canada, last Thursday night (June 16) when he walked off the edge of the stage as he appeared to be adjusting his pants. Of course, the moment was captured by hundreds of cell phones and spread online within hours afterwards.

The performer has never been shy about making fun of himself, but he didn’t immediately comment on social media after the Saskatoon show ended. However, he did send out a tweet earlier today (June 18), along with the infamous video, clearly poking fun at his mishap:

I'm a cat. I got 9 lives. Lol pic.twitter.com/9LMEl5eHGc

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) June 18, 2016

“Bieber takes a tumble” may end up being the title of a video compilation on YouTube at some point in the future, if it isn’t already, since the Canadian native has taken on the floor in past performances on the Purpose Tour. His set each night ends with a shirtless rendition of “Sorry,” during which he and his dancers perform as water falls onto the stage. While probably a great idea visually, it didn’t end well in Kansas City earlier this year, when Bieber slipped in a puddle mid-performance:

https://twitter.com/sidneyann_m/status/717925736099684352

To his credit, his accidents on stage only seem to endear him to his loyal Beliebers more than ever before.

However, the Purpose Tour hasn’t been all fun and games from the fans’ perspective. Some have been legitimately worried about his well-being, between his decision to forgo meet and greets because of how “draining” they’ve been for him in the past to recently tossing his used gum to a fan during a performance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDRkUVKAvlQ/

Some fans have noted that Bieber has always been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression, yet people haven’t really acknowledged those issues, preferring to criticize him instead.

https://twitter.com/badlandsbiebs/status/743914267888525312

For an NME cover story late last year, Bieber did talk about struggling with depression and isolation, even comparing himself to the late Amy Winehouse, who famously battled with drugs and depression before dying of accidental alcohol poisoning in 2011.

“You get lonely, you know, when you’re on the road. People see the glam and the amazing stuff, but they don’t know the other side. This life can rip you apart. I watched the Amy Winehouse documentary on the plane and I had tears in my eyes because I could see what the media was doing to her, how they were treating her. She was on drugs and they were just making fun of that,” the singer explained in the interview. “People thought it was funny to poke her when she was at rock bottom, to keep pushing her down until she had no more of herself. And that’s what they were trying to do to me. No one knew what I was feeling. I was rebelling against something deeper, and it took me a minute to realize I’m not gonna let them win.”

Of course, he was referring to a particularly rocky two-year period during his hiatus from music, riddled with legal troubles within the States and internationally, as well as some bizarre behavior that some might say is just one path that teenagers go through when learning to find themselves. His growth, though, much like Winehouse’s, happened to be in front of millions of people, highlighted by photos and video wherever he went.

It was isolating and depressing sometimes, he told NME, not being able to go anywhere by himself or having to hide in hotels that were being swarmed by paparazzi and fans.

Although “Bieber Takes A Tumble” makes a great headline, it may also be perfect commentary on just how quickly the public is willing to attack anyone in the spotlight.

[Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Images]