THIS JUST-IN

Justin Bieber Debuts Confusing New Name on Instagram

The 31-year-old has elicited concern and confusion with his recent social media activity.

Justin Bieber changed his Instagram handle on Thursday from @justinbieber to @lilbieber, provoking confusion and ridicule from fans. “Bro thinks he’s a rapper,” wrote a commenter on X. The “Baby” singer has also referred to his 10-month-old baby son as “lil bieber.” The 31-year-old has prompted speculation that his name change signals a broader reinvention, having accumulated tattoos, piercings, and beanies over the years. One X user mused about an upcoming JB “mixtape” while another hypothesized a father-son collab: “Bieber and lil Bieber on the next album??” they wrote on Instagram. The 31-year-old singer has not yet commented on his Instagram handle change, though he has been candid with his fans recently about his mental state as rumors swirl of trouble in his marriage to wife Hailey Bieber. “I know I’m broken. I know I have anger issues,” Bieber posted on social media on Monday, June 16. Maybe the star is simply expressing his love for his son, just as he did this Father’s Day. “I’m a dad that’s not to be f---ed with,” he captioned a cryptic black-and-white close-up selfie with a plastic middle finger, one of a series of posts that have left Beliebers increasingly concerned about the celebrity.