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Justin Bieber Explains Canceled Tour In Emotional Letter: ‘I Want My Mind, Heart And Soul To Be Sustainable’

By Page Mackinley
Published on: 18:37 PST, Aug 5, 2017

Justin Bieber has shared a candid and emotional open letter to fans on social media explaining why he’s taking a needed step back from his career.

The pop icon also clarified his reasons for canceling the last 14 concert dates of his “Purpose World Tour,” revealing that he ended it prematurely and is now taking a career timeout because he wants his career, mind, heart, and soul to be “sustainable.”

On July 24, it was announced that the remainder of the tour was canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Justin performed 154 “Purpose” concerts in 16 months across six continents. An average tour length is around 85 dates.

Which means the Biebs delivered enough shows for nearly two entire tours before canceling just 14, all of which have since been refunded.

At the time, the superstar’s team released a press statement saying he was grateful to have shared an incredible experience with his fans.

Shortly after, a TMZ paparazzo caught up with the 23-year-old singer and asked why he nixed his last tour leg.

“Just resting, getting some relaxation. We’re gonna ride some bikes,” Justin replied, after telling the cameraman that he had been on tour for nearly two years.

Bieber reiterated, “No, you already know the reasons,” a day later when he was pestered by yet another TMZ photog, grilling him as to whether or not he had quit his tour over religion.

Amid TMZ’s harassment, Justin’s rep told multiple media outlets that the singer was “super exhausted.”

Fast forward to the Biebs’ heartfelt Instagram post earlier this week. It began with repeated declarations of gratitude to his fans.

“I’m so grateful for this journey with all of you,” Justin wrote.

He continued, “I’m grateful for the tours but most of all I am grateful I get to go through this life WITH YOU!”

The Canadian revealed he hasn’t found “learning and growing” to be “easy” but knowing that he isn’t “alone” has kept him “going.”

In his lengthy note, Justin also got real about some of his youthful mistakes, revealing past decisions and “broken” relationships were at the root of them.

He admitted, “I have let my insecurities get the best of me at times, I let my broken relationships dictate the way I acted towards people and the way I treated them!”

He added, “I let bitterness, jealousy and fear run my life.!!!!”

In what seems to be reference to the pastors that Bieber is often seen with, he wrote that he is “extremely blessed” to connect with people “in the past few years” who helped him “build” his “character back up” and remind him of “who I am and who I want to be.”

The singer also vowed that he won’t let “past decisions and past relationships” dictate his future decisions and future relationships.

Ever conscious of naysayers, Justin wryly noted that he is “very aware” that he’ll never be “perfect” and will likely continue to make mistakes.

He added that he’s not “ashamed” of his mistakes and wants to be a man who learns and grows from them.

Of his “Purpose Tour,” the Biebs described the global trek as “unbelievable” and says it taught him so much about himself.

It’s at this point that Bieber reveals why he canceled his tour and is taking a break from music.

The Grammy winner says he wants to “protect” what he feels is his “calling” and work on having a “sustainable” life.

He went on to write, “Me taking this time right now is me saying I want to be SUSTAINABLE.” Note the capitals.

“I want my career to be sustainable but I also want my mind heart and soul to be sustainable so that I can be the man I want to be, the husband I eventually want to be and the father I want to be,” Justin added.

In short, Justin Bieber is declaring that he needs to stop being “Brand Justin Bieber” for a while so that he can balance key parts of his life that are under stress.

Justin ended his message saying that he had no expectation that people would understand it, but said he wanted fans to have the opportunity to know his heart.

It would be understandable that any artist who had completed a whopping 154 shows and has been touring since last March would be in need of a break.

For Bieber, it is clear that he’s looking for something more than a quick fix for understandable exhaustion, be it mental, emotional, physical, spiritual or all. Making a life “sustainable” can be as much about managing a life better — as opposed to revolutionary measures.

Justin was busking on Stratford’s streets and wowing fans on YouTube as a young kid. Discovered at 12-years-old by his longtime manager, he has been touring for six of the eight years he has been in the music business.

Bieber spoke many times in interviews during his comeback year in 2015 about trying to cope with his depression and anxiety.

It’s not hard to imagine that the singer has felt the added stress of the media’s evidently negative narrative and the disproportionate criticism and targeting he receives in the blogosphere and interwebs.

While some shaded the Biebs for canceling his final tour leg, others including Kelly Rowland, The View panel hosts, John Mayer, Fifth Harmony, and The Talk’s Sharon Osbourne, applauded the honesty and maturity of Justin’s explanation and acknowledged his right to make necessary judgment calls about his own well-being and health.

[Featured Image by Mat Hayward/Getty Images]

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