Celebrity

Justin Bieber: 'It's Time for Me to Grow Up'

The pop star says he's ready to change, but admits he wants to preserve his "purity"

Published on March 5, 2015 09:30 AM

He turned 21 last Sunday, so now is a good time to try adulthood for real.

In a new interview for the April issue of Men’s Health, Justin Bieber admits that part of him never grew up – indeed, never wanted to grow up. But after years of poor decisions and struggles adjusting to fame, the pop star says he’s committed to putting the past behind him.

“It’s time for me to grow up,” he tells the magazine, which hits newsstands March 10. “This has really been a big year for me, as far as figuring stuff out. This is almost like a full 180 from how I was. Yesterday – a year from yesterday – I was in jail.”

Growing up in the public eye brought all sorts of pressures, of course, which Bieber admits he had trouble handling at such a young age.

“I had to grow up so quick,” he says. “And it was almost like I grew up for the public but I didn’t necessarily grow up. There were things I had to do, as far as the way I had to make relationships, and conversation, but as far as actually growing up, there were a lot of things I missed out on.”

This isn’t the first time that Bieber has vowed to become a more responsible person. In January, he posted an emotional video following a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

But this new mature attitude doesn’t mean he wants to lose his youthfulness entirely.

“There’s a part of me that I don’t ever want to grow up,” he says now. “I want to always remain to have that sense of purity inside of me where I don’t I don’t want to lose that sense of purity.”

And what will make him feel grounded going forward? A strong relationship, for one thing.

“I’m very much a relationship guy,” he says. “I like to bounce ideas off the person that I love. I like having a real connection.”