Pattie Mellette is a scriptwriter and producer, but nowadays, she’s best known as the mom of pop star Justin Bieber.
Yet, not many people know about her and the struggles she has gone through in her life…
Justin Bieber is one of the biggest celebrities out there, and many think that the Canadian star has everything anyone could want.
But even famous people have problems and go through tough times – often without everyone knowing. Justin Bieber’s relationship with his mom, Pattie Mallette, has had its ups and downs – and given her difficult past, it’s not surprising that things became complicated.
Pattie Mallette was born on April 2, 1975, in Stratford, Ontario, and she has a French-Canadian heritage. Sadly, her early childhood was filled with an unimaginable tragedy. When Pattie was only 2 years old, her 5-year-old sister, Sally, was hit by a car while trying to cross the street and tragically lost her life. This heartbreaking event would leave a lasting impact on Pattie’s family and her early life.
Pattie had Justin when she was just 17 years old. At that time, she was a single mom and had to face many challenges. According to Daily Mail, Pattie raised Justin on her own in a low-income housing area in Canada, although she did get some support from her parents, who are Justin’s grandparents.
Pattie shared that she experienced years of abuse and violence starting when she was only 3 years old. She said:
“My offenders include a male babysitter, the grandfather of one of my friends, and neighborhood kids who seemed older than they really were,” she explained.
When she turned 14, she started using different substances. Around this time, she also began shoplifting and was even expelled from school for setting a fire in the bathroom. Unfortunately, the sexual abuse continued. In her book, Pattie talks about being date-raped at 15.
“I was sexually violated so many times that as the years went by it began to feel normal. It’s a strange feeling – knowing something is wrong but also finding it familiar and ordinary,” she said.
As a kid, Mallette loved acting and singing. By the time she was nine, she was appearing on local TV shows like Romper Room and Big Top Talent, a children’s talent show in her area.
At 15, she started dating Jeremy Bieber. Their relationship lasted four years, but she ran away from home when she was 16. She managed to survive by stealing and selling drugs.
“My childhood was really painful,” Mallette told George Stroumboulopoulos, as quoted by Cosmopolitan. “I had a love for the arts that I share with Justin, and we kinda bond over that.”
With her past and current habits catching up to her, her mental health deteriorated further.
After a long period of despair and suicidal thoughts, the 17-year-old tried to take her own life. She was committed to a mental institution that used Christian conversion therapy.
After being released from the hospital, Mallette reached out to former friends and coworkers who did not follow the same newly discovered religion she had found. This was when she reconnected with Jeremy Beiber once more.
After dating for six months, Pattie found out she was going to have a baby. Justin was born in London, Ontario, on March 1, 1994.
At first, Pattie and Jeremy kept dating after their son was born, but they soon decided to split up after a few months.
Even though she faced a lot of challenges, Pattie was always there for her son. She supported Justin in his love for music and even helped him join the 2007 Stratford Star talent competition when he was a teenager.
Justin, who is now a famous singer, came in second place with his performance of Ne-Yo’s “So Sick,” and Pattie shared the video of his amazing performance on Youtube. The video, along with others she posted later, became really popular over time.
Pattie’s autobiography came out in September 2012, published by the Christian company Revell.
The book, called “Nowhere But Up,” talked about Pattie’s tough childhood and how she used her faith and love to stay positive and be the best single mom she could be for Justin.
Now, their relationship is different than it used to be.
“When your kids reach a certain age, your way of parenting shifts, and it’s tough to let go,” Mallette shared with People in 2013, when her son turned 19 years old.
“His life was my life, and now I’ve had to loosen my grip a bit and allow him to be independent. It’s difficult not being able to control everything that your adult child does.”
After his big breakthrough, Justin Bieber found himself in trouble with the law. He was arrested in 2014 when police had to stop him around 4 a.m. for street racing.
This incident caused a strain in the relationship between mother and son.
“I never wanted my mom to feel let down by me, and I knew she did. We went through a period of not talking, so it takes time to rebuild that trust… it’s tough, but it’s getting better. She’s an incredible woman, and I love her,” the star told Billboard in 2015, as quoted by Cosmopolitan.
But now, that time in Justin’s life is nearly forgotten, and Pattie is very proud of her son.
“I’m so proud of the wonderful young man you are and the one you are becoming. None of us are perfect and we never will be, (so we will always need patience and grace for each other), but your true growing relationship with Jesus shows in the choices you make every day and the good ‘fruit’ you produce. I admire your character and integrity. You are growing beautifully and are wise beyond your years,” she posted on Instagram.
While Pattie was certainly challenged throughout her younger years, her turn to grace is truly an inspiration. Share this story on Facebook if you agree!
