Joe Rogan Defends Justin Bieber: "He's Handling Fame Phenomenally"

Joe Rogan, never one to hold back on bold opinions, came to Justin Bieber's defense during a 2018 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. The podcaster discussed the immense pressures Bieber faced as a young superstar, arguing that his journey was far more challenging than people realized.

“I just think people like Justin Bieber… he’s got a way harder road,” Rogan said. “It’s a way harder road to try to figure out who the f*** you are [at a young age].”

Rogan praised Bieber’s resilience, stating, “He’s handling it phenomenally,” and agreeing with his guest, country singer Sturgill Simpson, who also acknowledged Bieber’s struggles in the spotlight.

Bieber’s Struggles in the Spotlight

Justin Bieber’s meteoric rise to fame came with a heavy cost. By 2018, he had already endured years of public scrutiny and controversy. From his infamous 2013 visit to the Anne Frank House—where he controversially wrote he hoped Anne Frank would have been a Belieber—to incidents like urinating in a mop bucket and egging a neighbor’s house, Bieber’s youthful missteps made headlines worldwide.

In a candid 2015 interview with Billboard, Bieber reflected on the toll fame had taken. “It might seem awesome from the outside, but I’m struggling,” he admitted. “I felt like people were judging me all the time… I came out alive. I came out swinging. But I was close to letting [fame] completely destroy me.”

Rogan’s Perspective

Rogan emphasized how fame robbed Bieber of a normal childhood and the chance to figure out his identity away from the public eye. Despite his missteps, Rogan admired how Bieber managed to survive and evolve.

Though Bieber’s early career was marred by scandal, Rogan’s words highlighted the immense pressure placed on young stars and reminded audiences of the human side of celebrity life. Today, Bieber continues to navigate fame on his own terms, proving that resilience is key in the face of relentless scrutiny.