Justin Bieber has found himself at the center of a parenting controversy after posting a new carousel of photos featuring his infant son, Jack Blues, on Instagram.
While many fans were delighted to catch rare glimpses of the singer's baby boy — whom Bieber welcomed with wife Hailey Bieber back in August — the inclusion of a photo showing the pop star smoking has ignited fierce debate across social media.
A Summer Snap Stirring Concern
Bieber, 31, captioned his recent May post “Gonna be a good summer” and included a variety of casual, behind-the-scenes moments from what appeared to be a rustic mountain getaway with friends.
Among the images: Jack perched adorably on his shoulders, candid scenes with friends, and a shirtless Bieber lounging with baby Jack lying beside him.
But one photo struck a nerve — Bieber sitting on the same porch, in the same outfit, holding what appears to be a roll-up cigarette with a friend nearby.
While baby Jack does not appear in that specific - nor is it known just how far apart the two images were taken - the fact that location was clearly the same prompted alarm among followers.
“Don’t smoke in front your kid,” one user commented.
Another stated: “I hope that baby wasn’t exposed to marijuana smoke.”
A third typed: "Dude there is no way you have that baby around that smoke… be better like we know you can be."
One fan offered a more detailed warning: “Children are particularly vulnerable to health problems from exposure to smoke, including both cigarette and marijuana (pot) smoke. Even smoke that lingers on clothes or furniture (known as thirdhand smoke) can be harmful. So…maybe consider that. You’re a parent now. Act like one.”
Supporters Defend the Singer
Despite the uproar, many of Bieber’s 294 million followers quickly came to his defense.
“Guys, the picture with the baby you can see Jack’s feet on his leg. The picture of him smoking, the baby is clearly NOT there,” one supporter wrote.
Another added: “Everyone in the comment section let’s use our brains now — Jack isn’t even pictured in the photos where he’s smoking. He didn’t smoke in front of Jack.”
Others echoed the sentiment, writing: “He wasn't [smoking around Jack] — he was before the baby came outside,” and, “You don’t see that man smoking with his baby in NONE of these pics! Y’all say anything for attention.”
Still, the overall response remained mixed, with some fans simply urging Bieber to carefully consider which photos he shares with the public in the future.
Ongoing Criticism Over Parenting Choices
This isn’t the first time Bieber has received criticism regarding the content he shares about his son. Back in March, he posted a series of photos including one that revealed Jack’s bare bottom. The post triggered immediate backlash from fans warning about the risks of posting intimate images of children online.
“What is wrong with you !!!??? Protect your kid !!!!!” one user demanded at the time. Another added: “Crazy he’s going to exploit his child.”
No Comment from Bieber's Team
Despite the wave of scrutiny, neither Bieber nor his representatives have publicly addressed the controversy. DailyMail.com confirmed they had reached out for comment but received no reply.
The latest photo series did not include wife Hailey, though she has been candid in recent interviews about the challenges and joy of new motherhood.
The Rhode Beauty founder recently described her birth experience as “scary” and emphasized the couple’s commitment to privacy by choosing not to reveal Jack’s face publicly.
A Now-Familiar Pattern of Online Missteps
Bieber has had a rocky few weeks online. Just days before the smoking photo controversy, he faced backlash over a since-deleted Instagram caption in which he recalled telling Hailey she would “never be on the cover of Vogue” during a heated argument.
The comment, which he later admitted was “mean,” was intended as a moment of self-reflection — but was not received well by fans.
“Think as we mature we realize that we're not helping anything by getting even,” he wrote before editing the caption to a shrugging emoji and a face holding back tears.
The couple, who married in 2018, have weathered intense public attention since becoming parents - and there appears to be a new wave of controversy with every post.