Pattie Mallette, a screenwriter and producer, is best known today as the mother of pop superstar Justin Bieber.
Despite her connection to one of the world’s most famous musicians, many people are unaware of the personal struggles she’s endured throughout her life.
Although Justin Bieber appears to have it all, his journey—like that of his mother—has had its challenges. His relationship with Pattie hasn’t always been smooth, and given her difficult past, it’s not surprising that things between them have been complicated at times.
Born on April 2, 1975, in Stratford, Ontario, Pattie comes from a French-Canadian family. Her early years were overshadowed by a heartbreaking tragedy: when she was just two years old, her five-year-old sister, Sally, was fatally hit by a car while crossing the street. That loss had a lasting impact on her family and shaped Pattie’s childhood.
At the tender age of seventeen, Pattie gave birth to her son, Justin. Due to the fact that she was not in a relationship at the time, she was not unfamiliar with managing challenges. The Daily Mail reports that Pattie raised Justin all by herself in a housing unit in Canada that was designated for low-income families. She was able to get assistance from her parents, who are Justin’s grandparents.
Beginning when she was three years old, Pattie claims that she was subjected to years of abuse and violence, which she experienced in a variety of forms. She elaborated as follows:
According to her, “My offenders include a male babysitter, the grandfather of one of my friends, and children in the neighborhood who are reportedly mature beyond their years.”
She started using a variety of things when she was 14 years old, when she was a teenager. She was also beginning to shoplift at businesses around this time, and she was sent out of school for lighting a fire in the restroom. Both of these incidents occurred around the same time. Unfortunately, the sexual abuse in the novel persisted. According to Patti, she was raped on a date when she was 15 years old.
I was sexually assaulted so often that, as the years passed, it started to seem like something that was quite normal. She described the marriage as “strange” since she was aware that something was wrong with it, but at the same time, she found it to be familiar and usual.
From a young age, Mallette found joy in performing, developing a strong interest in both acting and singing. By the time she was nine, she had already appeared on local television programs like *Romper Room* and *Big Top Talent*, a regional children’s talent show.
At 15, she began a relationship with Jeremy Bieber. The couple stayed together for four years, but at 16, Pattie left home and began surviving through petty theft and drug dealing.
Reflecting on her early years, Mallette shared with George Stroumboulopoulos, as reported by *Cosmopolitan*: “My childhood was filled with pain. But I had a passion for the arts, something I now share with Justin. It’s something that connects us.”
As Pattie’s past traumas and current struggles intensified, her mental health took a serious toll. At 17, overwhelmed by despair and suicidal thoughts, she attempted to take her own life. Following the attempt, she was admitted to a psychiatric facility where she underwent Christian-based conversion therapy.
After her release, Pattie reconnected with some of her former friends and coworkers—those who didn’t share her newfound religious beliefs. It was during this period that she reestablished contact with Jeremy Bieber.
Six months into their renewed relationship, Pattie discovered she was pregnant. On March 1, 1994, she gave birth to Justin Bieber in London, Ontario. Although she and Jeremy continued seeing each other for a short time after Justin’s birth, the couple separated within a few months.
Despite the immense difficulties she faced, Pattie proved to be a devoted and supportive mother. She encouraged Justin’s musical pursuits and helped him enter the *Stratford Star* talent competition in 2007. Justin placed second for his performance of Ne-Yo’s “So Sick,” and Pattie uploaded the video to YouTube. The clip, along with others she shared, quickly gained attention and grew in popularity online.
In September 2012, Pattie released her memoir *Nowhere But Up* through the Christian publisher Revell. The book details her troubled childhood and how her faith and love helped her overcome adversity and raise her son as a single mother.
As Justin matured, so did their relationship. Speaking to *People* in 2013, when Justin turned 19, Pattie said, “When your kids reach a certain age, your parenting approach has to shift, and letting go is difficult. His life was once completely intertwined with mine, but now I’ve had to step back and allow him his independence.”
Justin’s rise to fame wasn’t without trouble. In 2014, he was arrested for street racing in the early hours of the morning, which strained his bond with Pattie.
“I never wanted to let my mom down, and I knew I had,” Justin told *Billboard* in 2015, as quoted by *Cosmopolitan*. “We went through a period where we weren’t speaking much. Rebuilding that trust takes time… but it’s improving. She’s a remarkable woman and I love her.”
Thankfully, that difficult chapter is behind them, and Pattie is now incredibly proud of her son. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she wrote:
“I’m so proud of the amazing young man you are, and the man you’re becoming. None of us are perfect, so we must always extend grace and patience to one another. Your growing faith in Jesus shines through in the choices you make and the good fruits you bear. I deeply respect your character and wisdom—you’re maturing in a truly beautiful way.”