We bet you didn’t know these details about the life of one of the most famous stars in the world. His mother had to overcome many hardships, but today she is incredibly proud of her son.
Pattie Mallette, a Canadian screenwriter and film producer in her forties, is not only Justin Bieber’s mother, but also his biggest supporter during his early musical career.
Pattie faced unimaginable difficulties in her childhood. Recalling her past, she reveals, “My childhood was dominated by sexual abuse and violence. I was first molested around age 3 by a male babysitter, the grandfather of one of my friends, and even neighborhood children who were supposedly more mature than their years. It happened so many times that eventually, it started to feel normal.”
At just 17 years old, Pattie gave birth to Justin and struggled emotionally because she was still single. Battling her own demons, Pattie began using drugs and stealing from stores at the young age of 14. Her reckless behavior led to her expulsion from school after she set fire to a bathroom. She ran away from home at 16 and survived through petty theft and drug dealing. Loneliness, depression, and thoughts of suicide plagued her during this period. Eventually, she found solace and hope after a suicide attempt at 17 led her to a psychiatric hospital, where she had a life-changing conversion to Christianity.
After leaving the hospital, Mallette tried to reconnect with old acquaintances who didn’t share her newfound faith. She also reconnected with Jeremy Bieber, whom she had dated when she was 15. Six months later, she became pregnant with Justin. On March 1, 1994, in London, Ontario, Mallette gave birth to her son. Although Mallette and Jeremy Bieber remained together for a while after Justin’s birth, they eventually broke up.
Despite her own struggles, Mallette recognized her son’s musical talents after he showed interest in music for two years. She decided to support him by enrolling him in the 2007 Stratford Star talent show, where Justin sang “So Sick” by Ne-Yo and placed second. Mallette captured his performance on video and uploaded it on YouTube for their family and friends to see. As Justin gained popularity on the internet, Mallette continued to share his performances online.
To tell her inspiring story of overcoming abandonment and single parenting, Mallette published her autobiography titled “Nowhere but Up” in September 2012. The book, published by the Christian publishing house Revell, details her difficult upbringing and her journey of developing a strong faith and a life filled with grace and optimism. “Nowhere but Up” debuted at number seventeen on the New York Times Best Seller list and has received positive reviews from various publications worldwide.
