Justin Bieber posted footage to Instagram of himself riding a Segway down a gravel road wearing only white boxer briefs, drawing a mixture of criticism and support from his followers.
The 31-year-old singer, who has about 293 million Instagram followers, shared audio-free clips showing him cruising at a modest speed through a wooded area with a grin on his face and his tattoos on display. He followed the near-nude clip with a rapid sequence of images and videos from what he described through the posts as an outdoor retreat—most of which showed him more fully clothed.
Commenters on the post expressed mixed views. One user wrote, "Hailey, take the phone away from our husband [sic]," referencing Bieber’s wife, Hailey Bieber. Another said the images had cooled their longtime interest in the singer: "If I ever had Bieber fever it has certainly died down and been cured with this post." Some fans were more favorable, saying the clips conveyed a sense of "peace of mind" or calling the images "classic" Bieber. One user suggested the photos could be used for a "new @calvinklein campaign." Others urged Bieber to keep the images private, with a commenter writing, "Actually this could have stayed in your camera roll."
Alongside the Segway footage, Bieber posted additional material showing outdoor activities that included a jet-ski ride while wearing an FC Barcelona jersey and camouflage swim trunks, kayaking with a companion, floating on a lake in a fuchsia jacket and lavender sweatpants, playing basketball with friends and swinging from a rope tied to a tree. He did not specify the location of the retreat, and posts did not include his wife, Hailey, or their 12-month-old son Jack Blues, leaving it unclear whether they accompanied him. Earlier this week, he had shared photos from a similar-looking lake that did include his son.
Bieber’s latest social-media activity came a day after pop star Britney Spears reposted an image linked to Bieber’s promotional campaign for his album "Swag." Spears reshared a black-and-white photo from the campaign showing Bieber shirtless with his son crawling on him and wrote, "Shame on those who judged my home in my pajamas!!! I’m in love with this picture!!! So so beautiful!!!" Spears’ post appeared to both praise the image and defend herself against followers who had raised concerns about the condition of her home and her recent social-media posts.
The posts tied into a broader promotional push surrounding Bieber’s album "Swag," which included stylized imagery of Bieber with Hailey and their son. That campaign followed a period of public scrutiny over tensions the couple displayed in earlier social posts; some fans said the campaign helped rehabilitate Bieber’s image after those moments. The album received both commercial success and critical attention after its release.
Bieber’s social-media posts continue a recent pattern of high-profile and sometimes unexpected public moments by major pop stars. Fans and commentators have frequently used comment threads to voice concerns about celebrities’ personal lives, behavior and mental health, and those conversations have at times prompted responses or support from other public figures.
No representatives for Bieber had issued a statement about the Segway post as of publication, and Bieber did not add a caption to the Instagram upload. His public activity will likely remain of interest to fans and entertainment outlets as he and other artists continue to promote recent releases and personal projects.