'I had hundreds of thousands of comments bombarding me with "He’s never going to this", "You’re never going to that", "You’ll be divorced by then",' Hailey Bieber has told Australian Vogue. ‘You can't help but wonder: "Does someone see something that I don't see?"'
Hailey married Justin Bieber last year, and she still receives hate comments about the longevity of their relationship. From Selena Gomez fans - or more importantly, Jelena stans - to those who continue to judge her husband for his littered past of admittedly dick-ish antics, her comments are often flooded with people predicting the end of her relationship.
Opening up about the experience in an interview with Australian Vogue, she explained that she has had to ‘retrain’ her thoughts to deal with it. ‘It starts to mess with your mind. But the only two people in a relationship are the two people in it. I’ve been working on retraining my thought process to understand that,’ she said. ‘Nobody from the outside really knows what's going on between us.’
Of course, Hailey is in a very unique position – not many of us can relate to millions of people wishing our partner was with someone else. But her general predicament – i.e. everyone around you telling you someone isn’t good for you or that your relationship won’t last – is something that many of us can relate to.
I had been with my first boyfriend for less than two months when my dad told me, 'This is never going to last, just so you know.’ He was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear. Many of us have had a friend or family member take issue with someone we’ve been in a relationship with. (Many of us have been the one to take issue, too.)
It’s impossible really, to enter into a relationship without the opinions of your inner circle flooding in. Because, as hard as they are to hear – they are essential. Being in love makes you stupid – that much we know is true. You become blind to a person’s flaws or potential manipulations and attempting to see your relationship through an objective lens is no easy feat.
Until you go through a possibly painful experience, you will never know how to avoid it in future
Having a group of people you trust to tell you the hard truth and hold you accountable is often something we come to be grateful for later in life. When we're young, 99% of the time, we don't listen. And that’s OK – because we have to learn these lessons for ourselves. To learn them any other way than through personal experience just wouldn’t have the same impact.
Do you think I cared that my dad thought my relationship would be short-lived? Absolutely not. I went on to move in with the man, plan my entire future around him and live through two and a half years of what felt like supernatural highs and lows.
It might’ve ended – or possibly exploded is a better word – but in that time, I learnt about 800 lessons about who I am, what I want and what kind of person I could spend my life with. I might’ve given up a university term abroad, which I’ll always regret, but I don’t regret the many other idiotic decisions. Because they made me impervious to such stupidity now.
And now, having given similarly harsh advice to my sisters about their (absolutely terrible) boyfriends I can understand that until you go through a possibly painful experience, you will never know how to avoid it in future. I can save my friendships from the inevitable doom that’s caused by unsolicited and harsh relationship advice because I too have been in their position.
Because that’s ultimately what’s affected by judgements on other relationships, isn’t it? Our friendships or familial relationships. When your friend knows you hate their partner, you’re then forced to navigate the tricky ground of wanting to be explicitly clear about how shit they are, but not wanting them to stop telling you their relationship woes for fear of your judgement.
There are times when stepping in is essential, of course – if you fear they're being physically or emotionally abused or see the warning signs of such behaviour (which you can find out more about here). But when the reasons you dislike your friends partner aren't so serious, it's probably easier and less exhausting for you to leave the person alone and know they’ll figure it out eventually.
I'll say to you what I would say to Hailey Bieber: wait it out. Eventually, people learn their lessons, whether they go on to end a bad relationship or actually improve the one you thought would never work. For Hailey’s sake, we hope these trolls take that on board sooner than later.
Read More: Hailey and Justin Bieber's relationship timeline...
Justin Bieber Hailey Baldwin relationship timeline slider with cover pic
1 of 31Swipe through to see Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin's relationship timeline...
2 of 312009 - Justin and Hailey first meet
A fresh-faced, full-fringed Justin Bieber was first introduced to future model Hailey Baldwin by her father Stephen Baldwin at one of Justin's concerts. In a video shared on the now-defunct social media platform Vine, Stephen introduces 13-year-old Hailey to 15-year-old Justin backstage at a show.
3 of 31February 2011 - Hailey attends Justin's Never Say Never premier
Hailey and her dad attend the premier of Justin's docu-film Never Say Never. They teens insist they are just friends.
4 of 31February 2011 - Justin and Selena Gomez confirm their relation
After months of speculation over their blossoming romance, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez confirm their relationship at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
5 of 31September 2011 - Hailey supports Jelena on Twitter
Hailey tells the world she's a big fan of Justin and Selena's relationship, tweeting: "I don't care what anyone says but Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez together is the definition of a teenage dream! #word."
6 of 31December 2014 - Justin and Hailey deny romance
After spotted out together on a number of occasions, the relationship rumours come in think and fast. In December 2014, both Hailey and Justin maintain they're just friends.In an interview with E! News, Hailey explains: "I've known [Justin Bieber] since I was so young—since I was like 13—and we've just been good friends over the years. We have just stayed close and there's nothing more to it than that."A few days later, Justin addresses the matter on his Instagram. He shares a pic with Hailey and writes: "People are crazy. I'm super single and this is my good friend u would know otherwise [sic]".
7 of 31January 2015 - Justin and Hailey party together
After seeing in the New Year together, Justin and Hailey are also spotted partying together at a Clippers game on 15th January. They look very cosy in a snap shared by mutual friend Kendall Jenner.
8 of 31July 2015 - Justin and Hailey get matching tattoos
Justin and Hailey decide to get matching G tattoos as a tribute to Georgia Veach - a young girl who attends their church and suffers from Lissencephaly.
9 of 31January 2016 - Hailey and Justin holiday together
Despite seemingly re-kindling his on/off relationship with Selena Gomez in December 2015, by January 2016 it was apparently off again. Justin took Hailey on his family holiday to Anguilla, seeing the New Year in together again.
10 of 31January 2016 - They go Insta official
Justin confirms his romance with Hailey, posting a picture of them kissing on holiday.
11 of 31February 2016 - 'It's complicated'
"He's about to go on tour," Hailey tells E! in Feb 2016."We are not an exclusive couple. Relationships at this age are already complicated, but I don't really like to talk about it because it's between me and him."In the same month, Justin told GQ magazine: "What if Hailey ends up being the girl I'm gonna marry, right? If I rush into anything, if I damage her, then it's always gonna be damaged. It's really hard to fix wounds like that. It's so hard... I just don't want to hurt her."
12 of 31August 2016 - Sofia Richie's steps onto the scene
A lot can change in six months. By August 2016 Justin has unfollowed Hailey, gone Insta official with Sofia Richie and SERIOUSLY upset Selena Gomez. After Biebs threatened to make his Insta private following the abuse Sofia had received due to the flurry of couple photos Justin had posted, Selena hit back. She wrote:
13 of 31June 2018 - Justin and Hailey are back together
After getting back with Selena in late 2017 and then splitting again around March 2018, speculation increases around that Justin and Hailey's rekindled romance. A video surfaces of the pair having a snog in New York City in June.In an interview with GQ, Justin hints Hailey is 'the one'.
14 of 31July 2018 - Justin and Hailey are engaged
Justin reportedly proposed to Hailey at a restaurant whilst the couple were on holiday in the Bahamas on 7th July 2018. Fans apparently witnessed the moment, but Justin's "people" reportedly told them not to film it.
15 of 31July 2018 - Justin CONFIRMS the engagement to Hailey
Justin confirmed the engagement on Instagram, writing, 'Was gonna wait a while to say anything but word travels fast, listen plain and simple Hailey I am soooo in love with everything about you! So committed to spending my life getting to know every single part of you loving you patiently and kindLY.'I promise to lead our family with honor and integrity letting Jesus through his Holy Spirit guide us in everything we do and every decision we make. My heart is COMPLETELY and FULLY YOURS and I will ALWAYS put you first!'You are the love of my life Hailey Baldwin and I wouldn't want to spend it with anybody else. You make me so much better and we compliment each other so well!! Can't wait for the best season of life yet!. It's funny because now with you everything seems to make sense!'The thing I am most excited for is that my little brother and sister get to see another healthy stable marriage and look for the same!!! Gods timing really is literally perfect, we got engaged on the seventh day of the seventh month, the number seven is the number of spiritual perfection, it's true GOOGLE IT! Isn't that nuts? By the way I didn't plan that, anyways.'My goodness does feel good to have our future secured! WERE GONNA BE BETTER AT 70 BABY HERE WE GO! 'He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains FAVOR from the Lord!' This is the year of favor!!!!' [sic]
16 of 31July 2018 - Hailey confirms the engagement on Twitter
Hailey also confirmed the engagement, writing on Twitter, 'Not sure what I did in life to deserve such happiness but I am so utterly grateful to God for giving me such an incredible person to share my life with! No words could ever express my gratitude. ❤ufe0f'
17 of 31July 2018 - Justin and Hailey are reportedly already planning their wedding
According to Us Weekly, Justin and Hailey are hoping for a "small, intimate" wedding in Justin's native country of Canada. An insider close to the couple told the publication, "They are discussing having a very small wedding. They want something private, intimate. Justin loves Canada and is at home there. It's a special place for him and he'd love to get married there."
18 of 31August 2018 - Friends of the couple refute the rumours
According to US celebrity news site TMZ, sources close to the couple say they have decided "not to rush to the altar" and to wait until next year. The publication reports that "it's not because they're unsure," it's because they "feel they've made the commitment and that's the most important thing."They go on to add that a "solid source" has revealed that their whirlwind engagement shouldn't actually be considered as a quick decision, "Justin's been in love with her for a long time, so this didn't just come from out of the blue," adding that there were "a number of times" when Hailey and Justin got back together behind the scenes.
19 of 31August 2018 - Hailey shows off her engagement ring
Hailey debuted her HUGE engagement ring from Justin on a photoshoot for Vogue, sharing the snap on her Instagram profile.
20 of 31September 2018 - Justin and Hailey spotted at NYC courthouse
Justin and Hailey were spotted outside a courthouse in New York City well-known for issuing marriage licences, with eyewitnesses telling TMZ that they were spotted there on the 13th Sept, and that Justin even became teary-eyed over their upcoming nuptials, reportedly telling Hailey, 'I can't wait to marry you, baby.'
21 of 31September 2018 - Justin spotted busking outside Buckingham Palace
The loved-up pair took a stroll through London, with Bieber whipping out his guitar outside Buckingham Palace and serenading Hailey with an acoustic version of his hit song 'Cold Water' as Hailey and an array of excited fans looking on. One fan of the 24-year-old filmed the whole thing, posting the clip to his Instagram page for us all to enjoy. Alongside the video, the fan wrote, 'Justin Bieber singing in front of Buckingham Palace today! #shook #lucky #justinbieber #streetconcert'. [sic]
22 of 31September 2018 - Hailey opens up about her engagement
Hailey spoke out about the engagement in her first interview since Justin popped the question whilst they were on holiday in the Bahamas, calling it the "biggest OMG moment" of her life.Speaking to Coveteur, Hailey was very coy about the subject, but did say, "Well, I got engaged! I think that's probably the biggest OMG moment of the year for me, of my life. So that's probably top."
23 of 31October 2018 - Justin sparks rumours they're already married
The Daily Mail reported that Justin "let slip" he'd married his 21-year-old fiancée, as an eyewitness told the publication that they'd been dining near the couple at restaurant Joan's On Third in Los Angeles and had to ask.They told the publication, "I said to them, 'I don't want to say congratulations, but are you married?' Justin said, 'Yes, we are married'."He explained that they have their ups and downs just like every other couple. He said he has a lot of baggage and called Hailey 'an angel' for sticking by his side, but she just rolled her eyes."Well, that's pretty definitive!
24 of 31November 2018 - Justin confirms he married Hailey Baldwin
In November 2018, Justin confirmed the speculation around his marital status with a very simple Instagram post that read, 'My wife is awesome.'
25 of 31November 2018 - Justin speaks out on his first Thanksgiving as a married man
In case there was any doubt, Justin spoke about being a married man once again on Thanksgiving in 2018. He wrote, 'Happy late thanksgiving to everyone. First thanksgiving as a married man, first time hosting thanksgiving. First time both sides of the family has come together. Relationships are hard and love isn't always easy but thank you Jesus for showing me how! Every day is a learning process, trying to be more like him, patient, kind, selfless, boy I got a long way! But gods grace is sufficient !' [sic]
26 of 31November 2018 - Hailey changed her surname on Instagram to Bieber
Model Hailey also confirmed the nuptials on Instagram by changing her name to Bieber.
27 of 31January 2019 - Hailey and Justin are 'planning a big wedding'
Despite tying the knot last September, the Biebers are reportedly planning another wedding - but this time, they're going all out and are planning to "surprise" their guests with a big party. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, a source close to the couple revealed that their big do will be on 28th February 2019, and they've already sent out 'save the date' cards.The source said that the newlyweds are "so happy and inseparable," and that they're "thrilled they can finally share their love and commitment with family and friends." They added, "They want the music, entertainment and exciting details to be a big surprise for their guests. There was no location included in their text, because they want complete privacy. Everyone is in full preparation mode, and Justin plans to use his personal DJ to spin on the big day. They truly are planning a beautiful celebration and a party to be remembered."
28 of 31April 2019 - Hailey and Justin prank the world with a pregnancy announcement
Fans were convinced Justin and his wife Hailey were expecting their first child on April Fool's Day after Justin shared a photo of a baby scan to Instagram with no caption. He then shared a photo of Hailey seemingly at the doctors having some sort of procedure, and wrote, 'If U thought it was April fools'. [sic]However, he later shared a joke photo of a baby scan with a puppy inside it, writing, 'Wait omg is that a,,, APRIL FOOLS'. [sic] The singer's prank didn't go down well with some people, with various fans slamming the couple for being 'insensitive', something he later apologised for.
29 of 31July 2019 - The couple celebrate their 'proposal anniversary'
Hailey Baldwin shared the cutest tribute to husband Justin Bieber on their one-year proposal anniversary. Taking to Instagram, she posted a photo of the two on her Instagram, showing the couple relaxing with her head rested on Justin's shoulder.She captioned the image, '1 year ago I said yes to being your best friend for life, and today I have never loved you more.. life gets more beautiful everyday because of you, my heart belongs to you forever. Here's to learning and growing together.. ❤ufe0f'. [sic]
30 of 31August 2019 - Justin pays tribute to Hailey after she helped him through 'personal difficulties'
Sharing a video of himself singing at their church, Justin wrote, 'Sang at church last night. God is pulling me through a hard season. Having trust in Jesus at your worst times is the absolute hardest. But he is faithful to complete what he started.'I also want to thank my wife for being such a huge support in my life through this season.. it says in the bible count it ALL JOY when you face trials of various kinds. Sounds insane considering when u face trials u feel terrible.'But if we are grateful and worship god for what we do have in that season there is so much power in that... whatever pain you are going through just keep telling yourself THIS WONT LAST! Love you guys we in this together.' [sic]
31 of 31September 2019
On 30th September 2019, Justin and Hailey held a second wedding ceremony at the Somerset Chapel before heading to the Montage Palmetto Bluff resort in South Carolina. Justin shared some stunning black and white snaps on his Instagram.
Justin Bieber And Hailey Baldwin Never Had Sex Until They Were Married