Justin Bieber accused of being in a cult by longtime friend
Ryan Good, 41, hasn’t spoken to Justin Bieber, 31, in over a year after leaving Churchome
Justin Bieber’s inner circle may be crumbling and one longtime friend thinks the pop star is caught up in something far more serious than creative differences.
According to a new TMZ report, Ryan Good co-founder and former creative director of Bieber’s streetwear label Drew House, believes the Grammy-winning singer is “in a cult” and has cut off contact with him over concerns about Bieber’s pastor and Churchome leader Judah Smith.
Sources told TMZ that Good, 41, hasn’t spoken to Bieber, 31, in over a year after leaving Churchome, the Beverly Hills-based church where Smith, 46, sits on the leadership team.
The insider added that Bieber’s growing closeness to Smith was “a big factor” in their split. “Ryan thinks the church is a cult,” one source claimed.
Bieber later made Smith a board member at Drew House, a decision insiders called “weird” and “concerning” given Smith has no background in business.
The tension boiled over earlier this month when Justin took to Instagram to publicly disavow Drew House, the brand he helped build.
“I, Justin Bieber, am no longer involved in this brand,” he wrote in a now-viral Instagram Story, urging fans not to support the company: “Drew House doesn’t represent me or my family or life.”
How did Justin Bieber's downward spiral begin?
Fans and former associates have voiced growing unease over Bieber’s recent public behaviour including an incident where he was seen swaying oddly at wife Hailey Bieber’s Rhode skincare event, and another where he began rapping with droopy eyelids during an Instagram Live.
While reps have denied drug use, calling the claims “exhausting and pitiful,” some insiders believe the singer is struggling behind the scenes.
Justin’s team hit back at the reports, calling them “clickbait stupidity” based on “unnamed, ill-informed sources”.
“These unnecessary stories and inaccurate assumptions will continue,” the rep told Page Six. “But they won’t deter Justin from staying committed to following the right path.”
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