Justin Bieber reflects on past DUI and urges fans to forgive their own mistakes
Justin Bieber was in a reflective mood on Saturday as he cast his mind back seven years to the day he was arrested.
The 26-year-old went through a difficult phase in his late teens where he was involved in a number of high profile scandals including the incident which saw him cuffed by cops and lead away – while paparazzi snapped away.
Since then, the chart topping Canadian has gone on to clean up his act and is now a more grounded, married man.
Saturday marked seven years since Justin saw himself shamed by his own actions when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
(Image: Justin Bieber /Instagram)
Sharing a pap shot from that day via Instagram, Justin wrote: “7 years ago today I was arrested, not my finest hour.
“Not proud of where I was at in my life. I was hurting, unhappy, confused, angry, mislead, misunderstood and angry at god..”
Poking fun at his attire during his arrest, he went on: “I also wore too much leather for someone in Miami.”
Justin – who is famously an attendee of Christian church, Hillson – continued: “All this to say God has brought me a long way.
(Image: Getty Images)
“From then til now I do realize something.. God was as close to me then as he is right now. My encouragement to you is to ‘let your past be a reminder of how far god has brought you.”
Sharing an optimistic outlook, he preached to followers that they should forgive themselves for their mistakes.
He urged: “Don’t allow shame to ruin your ‘today’ let the forgiveness of Jesus take over and watch your life blossom into all that God has designed you to be. LOVE YOU GUYS WITH MY WHOLE HEART.”
The year 2014 was a difficult one for Justin as he also made headlines following a spat with a neighbour – who accused the star of causing thousands of dollars of damage to their property after throwing eggs at the home.
(Image: Getty Images North America)
His January 23rd arrest in Miami sparked a petition which over 270,000 Americans signed, urging then president Barack Obama to deport the pop singer back to his native Canada.
Trouble followed him outside the USA – with a second arrest in September that year over dangerous driving an assault.
Other incidents over the years included fury over reports he abandoned a pet monkey in Germany in 2013, and the same year he was accused of peeing in a mop bucket in a nightclub.