Patti Mallette’s prayer for Justin Bieber sparks online chatter ahead of Selena Gomez’s wedding

Patti Mallette, Justin Bieber’s mother, published a lengthy message on Instagram this week in which she prayed for her son. The post arrived five days before Selena Gomez’s wedding to Benny Blanco, a timing that fueled online speculation about Bieber’s state of mind amid the high-profile nuptials.

The post featured black-and-white photographs of Bieber and described a desire for healing and protection. Mallette spoke of seeking freedom, strength, and clarity for her son and asked that God heal wounds of the heart, mind, and body while surrounding him with truth and light. The message also acknowledged a request for love to fill him and for him to be guided as a positive voice in his faith community. The post’s timing, shared in the days leading up to Gomez’s wedding, prompted a flurry of social-media theories about what the note might signal.

Reaction on social media was quick and varied. Some users suggested the post was tied to the upcoming wedding and interpreted it as a window into Bieber’s emotional state, while others argued it was simply a general, parental message of support. Comment sections populated with theories ranged from the implausible to the sympathetic, with many urging followers to respect the private nature of Gomez’s nuptials and Bieber’s personal challenges. A subset of commenters floated the idea that the post hinted at a broader projects or songs; others contended the timing was coincidental and unrelated to Gomez’s marriage.

Historically, Bieber and Gomez dated on and off from 2010 until their final split in March 2018. Bieber later married Hailey Baldwin Bieber in September 2018, and the couple announced the birth of their son, Jack, in August 2024. The public has long watched the triangle among Bieber, Gomez, and Hailey, with ongoing speculation about tensions between the women despite public statements to the contrary.

Gomez and Blanco’s wedding is planned on a large private property in California, described as tented and protected by substantial security to maintain privacy for roughly 300 guests. Reports indicate a security-heavy setup with an estimated cost of around $300,000. Guests are expected to include a constellation of A-list figures, among them Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and the duo’s supporting cast from Only Murders in the Building, Steve Martin and Martin Short.

On the broader health and career front, Bieber has been open about challenges related to fame, mental health, and physical health. In 2022 he disclosed Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that temporarily affected facial movement, underscoring the pressures that can accompany astronomical public attention. Meanwhile, Gomez’s team has consistently pushed back on long-running tabloid rumors about a feud with Hailey Bieber, reinforcing that both women strive to move past online chatter.

The episode illustrates how intertwined personal narratives and public events have become in contemporary pop culture, where a family message on social media can generate days of wide-ranging commentary as fans parse every potential signal in the run-up to a major wedding.