She Refused To Have An Abortion At 17, Now 31 Years Later Her Son Is World Famous
In a heartfelt and deeply personal conversation, Pattie Mallette — the mother of global superstar Justin Bieber — has opened up about the painful experiences that shaped her early life and her courageous decision to keep her baby despite enormous pressure not to. Her story, marked by trauma, resilience, and redemption, offers an intimate glimpse into the journey that led to one of the most remarkable mother-son relationships in pop culture.
Long before she became known as Justin Bieber’s mother, Mallette endured years of sexual abuse during her youth. She has spoken candidly about these experiences in her memoir, Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber’s Mom, describing how they left lasting emotional scars. “It’s something so many survivors experience,” she shared. “You carry this shame and feel like there’s something inherently wrong with you. I definitely carried that burden.”
The weight of that pain led to a suicide attempt in her teenage years. “It was the result of years of abuse, coupled with depression and substance abuse,” Mallette said. “Drugs and alcohol only made things worse. It was a breaking point.” Her honesty about that dark chapter has inspired countless readers who have faced similar struggles, reminding them that healing, while difficult, is possible.
At just 17, Mallette discovered she was pregnant. Alone, uncertain, and facing immense pressure to terminate the pregnancy, she made the life-changing choice to keep her baby. “I just recognized that I couldn’t go through with it,” she said. “I didn’t know how I was going to manage, but I was determined to do my best. I had to give him a chance.”
That decision, born from both faith and courage, set her on a new path — one that would test her limits but ultimately give her life new meaning.