The pop star sparked concern and support with a sweaty Instagram post, months after denying drug use

Justin Bieber left fans both worried and supportive on Sunday after posting a series of sweaty, red-faced selfies on Instagram with the cryptic caption: “Detoxxxxxxxxxxx.”

The pop icon, 31, didn’t explain what prompted the detox, but his flushed skin and dripping brow ignited immediate speculation. Fans flooded his comments with encouragement. “Please stay healthy and happy,” one follower pleaded. Another urged, “You can do this. Keep going.”

The sweaty carousel arrives just five months after Bieber’s team publicly denied damaging rumours about his mental and physical health, particularly allegations of drug use. At the time, his representative slammed the stories as “exhausting and pitiful,” adding that people were “committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive.”

Still, the detox post seemed to stir those same concerns again.

The “Baby” singer has previously been spotted smoking joints in public — at Coachella and on a snowboarding trip with friends — fuelling chatter around his health and lifestyle. But his rep insisted earlier this year that Bieber was in a “very good place,” especially with wife Hailey Bieber, 28, and their son, Jack Blues, born in August 2024.

Insiders claimed that Bieber’s journey this year has been deeply transformative. According to TMZ, the singer has cut ties with several long-time business partners and friends, choosing instead to focus on healing and growth. “He’s removed himself from relationships that no longer served him,” a spokesperson said in February.

But behind the detox selfies and PR assurances, storm clouds appear to linger.

A source recently told Entertainment Tonight that tensions have been bubbling at home. “Justin’s been irritated with Hailey,” they said, claiming he finds her too focused on appearances. “He feels like Hailey can be superficial about the way their relationship looks in the public eye.”

Hailey, meanwhile, has reportedly been struggling with Justin’s lack of direction. The same source said, “Justin’s lack of motivation has been upsetting for her.”

It’s a contrast to the polished couple image they often portray. While the Biebers regularly post loved-up photos and appear at fashion events hand-in-hand, insiders suggest their home life is far more complex, especially now that they’re parenting a toddler.

An anonymous source speaking to Us Weekly described Hailey as “the stable parent and the one keeping the family together” while Justin wrestles with his emotional state. “Justin’s been a hard person to deal with recently because of what he’s going through,” the source said. “It’s been really hard on her.”

Still, fans remain loyal. Underneath the detox post, supporters reminded Bieber of his strength and journey. “Love you dude, keep pushin,” one wrote. Others echoed similar sentiments, hoping his sweat-soaked selfies were a sign of renewal, not distress.

Bieber himself remains quiet. The detox images, shared without additional context, left much to interpretation. Was it a sauna session? Intense cardio? Emotional release? Only Justin knows — and for now, he’s choosing silence over explanation.

What’s certain is that Bieber continues to walk a fine line between public scrutiny and personal transformation. Whether this detox is physical, emotional, or both, fans just hope he’s on the path to peace — and that he stays on it.