During his darkest times it wasn't just fans worrying about pop star Justin Bieber - his manager was too.
Scooter Braun has revealed how much he feared for the 'Sorry' singer's wellbeing during his mental breakdown, following his DUI arrest in January 2014.
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Braun, who plucked Bieber from obscurity while he was busking on the street at the age of 12, has told the Wall Street Journal how Bieber's behaviour became increasingly erratic and dangerous.
"It was worse than people realised," Braun said. "I failed him day after day. We were living in hell because he was in such a dark place."
He continued: "I have inconveniences, and other people have problems. Mine feel important, but they're not. They're not life or death. Justin's stuff got to a point where it was a problem."
Braun, 36, also confessed that many industry heavyweights tried to convince him to fire the chart-topper, when it looked like his career wouldn't recover.
"Some of the biggest people in the industry, people invested in Justin's career, told me, 'It's over. Focus on something else. That kid is done.'"
But E News! reports Braun said he was determined to keep the pledge he made to his 13-year-old client.
"I made a promise to him when he was 13 that I would never give up on him. I plan on keeping that promise," he said.
The friendship lasted, and now Braun said now Bieber is better than ever.
"He's family. I think the relationship is more like a big brother, especially because he's become a man.
"I think he's seen the worst of himself, and to watch him rise out of it was amazing."
In April, Bieber posted a side-by-side companion picture in Instagram, with a current snap of him alongside his 2014 mugshot. He wrote in the caption: "Thank God I'm not where I used to be!!"
Newshub.
