Pattie Mallette is a scriptwriter and producer, but she’s best known as the mother of pop superstar Justin Bieber.
Few know about the struggles she’s faced throughout her life.
Justin Bieber is one of the biggest stars in the world, but like many famous people, he has had his share of personal challenges—often away from the public eye. His relationship with Pattie has been rocky, which isn’t surprising given her difficult past.
Born April 2, 1975, in Stratford, Ontario, Pattie comes from a French-Canadian family. Her early childhood was marked by tragedy: when she was just 2, her 5-year-old sister Sally was hit by a car and killed. This heartbreaking loss shaped Pattie’s family and her early years forever.
Pattie gave birth to Justin at the young age of 17. She was single at the time and was not unfamiliar with dealing with obstacles. According to Daily Mail, Pattie raised Justin all by herself in a low-income housing space in Canada. She had some help from her parents, Justin’s grandparents.
According to Pattie, she dealt with years and various instances of abuse and violence, starting at the age of 3. She explained:
“My offenders include a male babysitter, the grandfather of one of my friends, and neighborhood children reportedly mature beyond their years,” she says.
As she grew to the age of 14, she began to use different substances. Around this time, she was also beginning to shoplift at stores and was expelled from her school for starting a fire in the bathroom. Sadly, the book sexual abuse continued. In her book, Patti describes date rape at age 15.
”I was sexually violated so many times that as the years went by it began to feel normal. It’s a strange marriage – knowing something is wrong yet at the same time finding it familiar and commonplace,” she said.
As a child, Pattie Mallette loved acting and singing. By age nine, she appeared on local TV shows like Romper Room and Big Top Talent.
At 15, she started dating Jeremy Bieber. Their relationship lasted four years, but at 16, Pattie ran away from home. She survived by stealing and selling drugs.
“My childhood was really painful,” Pattie told George Stroumboulopoulos (Cosmopolitan). “I shared a love for the arts with Justin, and that’s something we bond over.”
Six months into dating, Pattie discovered she was pregnant. Justin was born in London, Ontario, on March 1, 1994.
Though Pattie and Jeremy stayed together briefly after Justin’s birth, they split a few months later.
Despite her struggles, Pattie was a devoted mother who supported Justin’s musical dreams—helping him enter the 2007 Stratford Star talent competition as a teen.
Justin placed second in the competition with his cover of Ne-Yo’s “So Sick,” and Pattie shared his performance video on YouTube. Her posts quickly gained popularity, helping boost Justin’s early fame.
In September 2012, Pattie published her autobiography, Nowhere But Up, with Christian publisher Revell. The book details her tough upbringing and how faith and love helped her stay hopeful and be the best single mom possible.
Today, their relationship has evolved.
“When your kids reach a certain age, your parenting style changes, and it’s hard to let go,” Pattie told People in 2013, when Justin turned 19.
“His life was my life, but now I’ve had to step back and let him be independent. It’s tough not being able to control everything he does.”
After his huge breakthrough, Justin ran into legal trouble. In 2014, he was arrested for street racing after police stopped him around 4 a.m.
That incident strained their relationship.
