Pattie Mallette is a scriptwriter and producer – but today, she’s best known as the mother of pop sensation Justin Bieber.
However, few people know much about her or the challenges she has faced throughout her life…
Justin Bieber is one of the biggest stars in the world, and to many, the Canadian singer seems to have everything anyone could want.
But even famous people have struggles and crises – often without the public fully realizing it. Justin Bieber’s relationship with his mother, Pattie Mallette, has been rocky at times, and considering her difficult background, it’s not surprising that things became complicated.
Pattie Mallette was born on April 2, 1975, in Stratford, Ontario, and comes from a French‑Canadian family. Tragically, her early childhood was marked by unimaginable loss. When Pattie was just 2 years old, her 5‑year‑old sister, Sally, was struck by a car while crossing the street and died. The devastating loss left a lasting impact on Pattie’s family and her early years.
Pattie gave birth to Justin at just 17 years old. She was single at the time and already familiar with hardship. According to the Daily Mail, Pattie raised Justin on her own in low‑income housing in Canada, with some help from her parents, Justin’s grandparents.
According to Pattie, she endured years of abuse and violence beginning at the age of 3. She explained:
“My offenders include a male babysitter, the grandfather of one of my friends, and neighborhood children reportedly mature beyond their years,” she says.
By age 14, she had begun using substances. Around the same time, she started shoplifting and was expelled from school for starting a fire in a bathroom. Sadly, the sexual abuse continued. In her book, Pattie describes being raped at age 15.
“I was sexually violated so many times that as the years went by it began to feel normal. It’s a strange marriage – knowing something is wrong yet at the same time finding it familiar and commonplace,” she said.
As a child, Mallette developed a passion for acting and singing. By age nine, she was appearing on local TV shows such as Romper Room and Big Top Talent, a children’s talent program broadcast in her area.
At 15, she began dating Jeremy Bieber. Their relationship lasted four years, but she ran away from home at 16. She survived by stealing and selling drugs.
“My life was really painful as a child,” 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.” As her past and habits caught up with her, her mental health deteriorated further.
After a long period of despair and suicidal thoughts, the 17‑year‑old attempted to take her own life. She was committed to a mental institution that used Christian conversion therapy.
After being released, Mallette reached out to former friends and coworkers who didn’t share her newly discovered religion. This was when she reconnected with Jeremy Bieber.
After dating again for six months, Pattie realized she was pregnant. Justin was born in London, Ontario, on March 1, 1994.
Although Pattie and Jeremy continued dating for a short time after Justin’s birth, they eventually broke up.
Despite everything she had endured, Pattie was a supportive and present mother. She encouraged Justin’s musical interests and helped him enter the 2007 Stratford Star talent competition when he was a teenager. Justin placed second with his rendition of Ne‑Yo’s “So Sick,” and Pattie uploaded the video to YouTube. That video — and the ones that followed — steadily gained popularity.
Mallette’s autobiography was published in September 2012 by the Christian publishing house Revell.
The book, titled Nowhere But Up, focused not only on Pattie’s difficult upbringing but also on how she used faith and love to stay optimistic and be the best single parent she could be.
Today, their relationship has evolved. “When your kids hit a certain age your parenting style changes and it is hard letting go,” Mallette told People in 2013, when Justin turned 19.
“His life was my life and now I’ve had to let him go a little bit and let him be independent. It is hard to not be able to control everything that your adult child does.”
After his massive breakthrough, Justin Bieber faced legal trouble. He was arrested in 2014 after police pulled him over around 4 a.m. while he was street racing.
That incident strained the mother‑son relationship. “I never wanted my mom to be disappointed in me and I knew she was. We spent some time not talking, so it takes time to rebuild that trust… it’s hard, but getting better. She’s an amazing woman and I love her,” Justin told Billboard in 2015, as quoted by Cosmopolitan.
But today, that period in Justin’s life is largely behind them, and Pattie is very proud of her son.
“I’m so proud of the amazing young man you are, and the young man you are becoming. None of us are perfect and never will be (so we will always need patience and grace for each other), but your genuine growing relationship with Jesus is evident in the choices you are making daily and the good ‘fruit’ you bear. I admire your character and integrity. You are maturing beautifully and wise beyond your years,” she shared on Instagram.
While Pattie faced enormous challenges in her youth, her journey toward healing and grace is truly inspiring. Share this story on Facebook if you agree!