There's little doubt that Justin Bieber's mother, Pattie Mallette, is living pretty comfortably these days, with her son reportedly being worth an astounding $265 million. That's not to assume that she relies on his fortune to make her living (she makes plenty of money on her own), but things weren't always great for Pattie, who endured constant family trauma growing up in Canada.
Her sister was killed in a car crash, her father was abusive and battled alcoholism, and it wasn't long before Pattie formed a drug addiction and struggled to keep up with her bills. Just months before finding out she was pregnant with Justin, The New York Times best-selling author was admitted to a mental institution, after attempting to take her own life.
It's heartbreaking to think that Pattie had to go through so much in her life, but overcoming problems and pain has made her a stronger person. Here are 15 lesser-known facts about Justin's mother.
15 She Had A Rough Childhood
Pattie suffered a traumatic childhood experience, as her father, Michael Mallette, battled alcoholism and would often become abusive when he was intoxicated. To make matters worse, Pattie’s dad ended up walking out on the family, and while he wasn’t the best father, she was upset that he packed his bags and left, without even considering how his absence would affect his kids.
14 She Lost Her Sister When She Was Only 2-Years-Old
When Pattie was just two-years-old, her older sister was tragically killed in a car accident while crossing the street. And though she doesn’t share any memories with her then-five-year-old sibling, the tragedy was another traumatic experience that the family had to endure.
13 Her Self-Esteem Was Affected By The Family Trauma
Her self-esteem issues became noticeable in the weeks after Michael abandoned his family and started a new life elsewhere. Pattie says that the experience made her feel like she was unwanted and it drastically affected the way she viewed herself.
“When my dad left us, it ripped a hole in my heart—one that began filling with thoughts and feelings that would challenge and ultimately damage my identity and self-worth,” she gushed. “The wound of being abandoned travels deep and forever changes you.”
12 She Reconnected With Her Father Before His Death
As the years went by, Pattie and her brother, Chris, were desperate to become reacquainted with their estranged father, who agreed to have dinner with his children in the hopes that they could talk things through. A few months later, Chris organized a trip to see their father again, but a day before the arranged meeting, Michael died of a heart attack.
11 Her Childhood Memories Are Filled With Abuse Of All Sorts
In her 2012 memoir, “Nowhere But Up", Pattie admitted that she’d been abused throughout her younger years - but not just by her father. Pattie was sexually abused by a male babysitter, a pal’s grandfather and older children that were living in the same neighborhood, and this went on for years until she turned 14.
10 She Was Raped At The Age Of 15 Following A Date
Pattie has also revealed that when she was 15-years-old, a guy she had been on a date with had raped her, which ultimately left her shattered. She found it hard to trust because of this and for other reasons. Having dealt with so much trauma, Bieber’s mom began feeling depressed and anxious, but those tough feelings were the least of her problems at the time.
9 She Sold Drugs To Make A Living
While dating Justin’s father, Jeremy Bieber, at the age of 15, Pattie started stealing to make a living. When the numbers weren’t adding up by month’s end, she resorted to drug dealing to sustain enough income to enjoy some sort of peace. But it was only a matter of time before she was faced with her next hurdle.
8 She Attempted Suicide
Pattie wasn’t happy with her life and even contemplated suicide at the time. She admitted that she once threw herself in front of a truck because she simply couldn’t cope with the way her life had turned out. Her teenage years were filled with abuse, her father had walked out on her, and she’d now become a drug dealer to survive. Pattie had hit her all-time lowest and wanted out.
7 She Became Pregnant Shortly After Leaving A Mental Hospital
Shortly after the incident, Pattie was taken to a mental hospital, where she stayed for several months before being released. At the hospital, she was said to have found religion - she started praying regularly. Things were looking better for Pattie as time went by - six months after leaving the mental facility, she received some wonderful news: she was pregnant with her first child.
6 She Called It Quits With Justin Bieber’s Dad Shortly After His Birth
Pattie’s relationship with Justin’s dad didn’t last. The two ended up calling it quits just ten months after Bieber’s birth and it’s believed that they didn’t speak much to one another after they split. Pattie was left to raise Justin by herself for the most part, but she accepted the challenge because she deemed her son a blessing from God. Because of Justin, Pattie was able to steer her life in the right direction, at a rapid pace.
5 Pattie Initially Managed Justin’s Career
Before signing his deal with his friend and long-time manager, Scooter Braun, it was Pattie who’d been handling Justin’s music career. She didn’t have a lot of experience working in the industry, but thanks to platforms such as YouTube, Pattie had the idea of posting Bieber’s song covers online. It was a great idea. Before even signing a record deal, Justin got millions of views.
4 She Turned To Religion To Overcome Her Breakdown
Religion helped Pattie pull through after she was released from a mental home. It’s said that during Justin Bieber’s own struggle with substance abuse, she urged her son to follow suit and connect with God. Justin has done so and now he's making a tremendous comeback.
3 She’s Been Celibate For Years
Given all that she’s been through, it’s not surprising to hear Pattie Mallette say that she’s been celibate since the age of 21. In a candid interview with Ellen Degeneres, Pattie admitted that she’s abstaining from intimacy until she gets married again.
The 44-year-old shared: "I take that vow really seriously. I remember when I made it, I wrote it down on a piece of paper and had someone witness it. It means a lot. I made it this far, I’m not stopping now."
2 She’s Remained On Good Terms With Justin’s Dad
Though they didn’t share the best relationship during their time together, for the sake of their son, Pattie and Jeremy have remained on good terms with one another. It’s said that Justin’s mom doesn’t fault her ex for their romance fizzling out. The proud parents have supported their son at several major events in the past, proving that they can still be cordial with one another.
1 She Did A Few Stage Performances As A Child
While she certainly didn’t have the type of career that her son has, Pattie shared that the experience of getting to perform on TV in her early years allowed her to get away from the pain she was enduring at home.
She told George Stroumboulopoulos: "Being on stage, you get to be somebody else [...] my life was really painful as a child. I had a love for the arts that I share with Justin, and we kinda bond over that."