Justin and Hailey Bieber eagerly await the arrival of their first child, the media’s relentless scrutiny of their six-year marriage continues unabated. In a revealing interview with W Magazine, Hailey shares her experiences navigating the constant speculation and rumors that have shadowed their relationship from the very beginning.
Hailey candidly addresses the impact of public criticism, revealing that despite her familiarity with living under the spotlight, the constant barrage of rumors has not become any easier to handle. “People have made me feel so bad about my relationship since day one. ‘Oh, they’re falling apart. They hate each other. They’re getting divorced,’” she says. “It’s like people don’t want to believe that we’re happy.”
She adds, “I used to try to act like it hurts less and less. I’ve tried to think that you get used to it at a certain point, that this is what’s going to be said and this is how people are going to be. But I realize that it doesn’t actually ever hurt any less.”
The model, who is the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin and designer Kennya Baldwin, first caught the public’s eye in 2015 when she was romantically linked with Justin Bieber. Although their initial romance was brief, they rekindled their relationship in June 2018, shortly after Hailey was seen with Shawn Mendes at the Met Gala and Justin ended his relationship with Selena Gomez. By the fall of that year, the couple was married.
In a 2022 appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Hailey addressed accusations that she was the cause of Justin and Gomez’s split. She emphasized that Justin was indeed single when they got together, despite the perception of their relationship from the outside. “I understand how it looked from the outside and there’s a lot of perception there, but that was a situation where I know for a fact that it was the right thing for them to close that door,” she stated, referring to Justin’s past relationship with Gomez. “They were not in a relationship at that time but of course, there’s a very long history there.”
Hailey reiterated this point in an interview on Bloomberg’s “The Circuit” last year, focusing on the broader issue of public hostility. “I don’t think that this is about me, Hailey Bieber, and Selena Gomez,” she explained. “This is not about this pitting between two women — it’s about the vile, disgusting hatred that can come from completely made-up and twisted, and perpetuated narratives that can be really dangerous.”
During her conversation with W Magazine, Hailey also touched on her relationship with her family, noting that they are “not super close” at the moment as she focuses on living a “very independent” life. As she and Justin prepare to transition into parenthood, she reflects on their remaining time as a couple without children. “I’m trying to soak in these days of it being Justin and me,” she said, “just the two of us.”
With their upcoming milestone, Hailey and Justin Bieber continue to navigate the challenges of fame and personal life, striving to find joy amidst the scrutiny and anticipation of their new chapter.
