Justin Bieber Distances Himself From Church and Drew House Amid Rising Controversy

Justin Bieber has quietly stepped away from Churchome, the high-profile Beverly Hills church he once passionately supported, as tensions rise between the pop star, his longtime pastor Judah Smith, and former best friend and business partner Ryan Good. The surprising developments come amid allegations of a “cult-like” culture within the church, strained friendships, and a public unraveling of the singer’s connection to his fashion brand, Drew House.

Bieber, 31, has not attended Churchome’s in-person services since March, sources close to the situation told The U.S. Sun. Despite his deep ties to the church—Smith officiated Bieber’s 2019 wedding to Hailey Bieber and baptized the couple together a year later—his recent absence has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about internal conflict.

A longtime source of spiritual support, Judah Smith has also been a prominent figure in Bieber’s personal and professional life. However, that influence is now being questioned by those closest to the star. According to insiders, Smith’s growing role—particularly his controversial addition to Drew House’s board—has driven a wedge between Bieber and Good, the brand’s co-founder and the best man at his wedding. The two reportedly haven’t spoken in over a year.

The situation took another turn when Bieber publicly renounced his affiliation with Drew House earlier this spring. In a since-deleted Instagram post, he wrote, “Drew House doesn’t represent me or my family or life. If you’re rocking with me, the human Justin Bieber, don’t waste your money on Drew House.”

Instead, Bieber teased his involvement in a new fashion endeavor, Skylrk, although that project’s launch has been repeatedly delayed.

Behind the scenes, Churchome and its charismatic pastor are facing criticism of their own. While Smith has publicly brushed off accusations that the church operates like a cult—once joking during a sermon, “If we’re a cult, we are the worst cult in the history of all cults”—former insiders, including Ryan Good, have reportedly walked away from the congregation over concerns about its culture and direction.

Smith’s most recent sermon, delivered Wednesday night at the Saban Theater to a crowd of around 250, only added to the intrigue. During his rambling, emotional address, Smith openly questioned his own well-being, responding to what he said was a barrage of texts from friends asking if he was okay.

“Have you ever been asked so many times if you’re okay that you start to wonder if you’re actually okay?” Smith told the audience, sharing that even during a recent trip to Miami, he was caught off guard by repeated check-ins from old acquaintances.

“I’m still married to Chelsea. We’re having sex pretty regularly. My kids are 20, 18, 16…” he said, in an offbeat moment that drew puzzled looks from attendees.

The sermon drifted through personal anecdotes and biblical references, ending on a tearful note as Smith admitted, “It’s always been about people, but we made it about popularity and appearances.”

Following the service, Churchome declined to comment on its current relationship with Bieber, and Smith was unavailable to speak to reporters. Bieber’s representatives have also remained silent on whether the singer still considers himself part of the church community.

Despite his absence from public worship, Bieber and his wife Hailey continue to follow Smith on Instagram. However, recent social media posts and candid public moments have left fans increasingly worried about the star’s emotional state.

In one concerning instance, Bieber shared a blurry black-and-white selfie with a solemn expression, accompanied by cryptic captions. He also posted leaked private text messages with an unidentified friend and shared emotional reflections online. Compounding the concern, he was caught on video ranting to paparazzi during a beach outing with family.

Adding to the drama are rumors of strain in his marriage to Hailey, which neither party has publicly addressed. Bieber’s team has denied reports of drug use, though fans have voiced unease about his frequent cannabis use, particularly following the couple’s announcement of their first child, Jack Blues.

Churchgoers interviewed after Wednesday’s sermon offered mixed reactions. One regular attendee who’s been involved with Churchome for five years defended Smith, saying, “He has a good heart. He’s the real deal. But every church has its issues—no church is perfect.”

Another attendee, who previously worshiped at Hillsong—another megachurch formerly associated with Bieber—described Churchome as “a completely different world” from Hillsong, which has faced its own scandals involving disgraced pastor Carl Lentz and decades-old allegations of abuse within the organization.

Yet, even those defending Churchome acknowledged Bieber’s noticeable absence. “He’s a big celebrity. He’s got a busy schedule. And not to mention the health issues he’s going through,” one attendee said. “He’s participated here, given words here. So we all love him. We’d always welcome him.”

Bieber’s departure from Hillsong in 2020 came after Lentz was fired over “leadership issues and breaches of trust,” including multiple extramarital affairs. The fallout prompted Bieber to seek spiritual guidance elsewhere—ultimately finding it in Smith and Churchome.

But as history threatens to repeat itself, the singer now finds himself at another crossroads: distancing from the very institutions he once held close, questioning long-time partnerships, and navigating a turbulent public and private life.

Whether Bieber will return to Churchome—or reestablish ties with Drew House—remains to be seen. For now, fans are left piecing together clues through scattered posts, cryptic messages, and a string of conspicuous absences. In the absence of clear answers, one thing is certain: Justin Bieber’s spiritual and personal journey continues to evolve—under scrutiny, in the spotlight, and largely on his own terms.