In June 2022, Justin Bieber was slated to perform two gigs at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. However, shortly before his spectacular homecoming, the musician postponed the Justice global tour indefinitely before cancelling it completely to focus on his health.
He has only appeared on stage twice since then, until last night, when he delivered a career-spanning redemption performance in Toronto for the NHL All-Star Player Draft.
“Here’s your JB eras performance,” Bieber’s wife, Hailey Bieber, wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of the singer running through his 2010 single “Eenie Meenie.” The setlist also included his seminal record “Baby” and Justice tracks “Peaches,” “Ghost,” and “Hold On.” Bieber also slipped in a quick rendition of SZA’s hit “Snooze.” He appeared in the music video for the song last year and later recorded an acoustic duet version with the R&B songstress.
Another video of Justin Bieber performing “Eenie Meenie” tonight in Toronto, ON. #HistoryToronto
🎥: viewthevibe
— Justins Tour Updates (@JustinsTourNews) February 2, 2024
Bieber’s comeback to the stage comes a year after his last public concert. In January 2023, the singer made an unexpected appearance during The Kid LAROI’s set at the launch of OBB Media’s new studio lot, OBB Studios.
Even so, a shirtless Bieber performed her verse on their collaboration “Stay” from a set of stairs to the side of the stage. Last night, he asked The Kid LAROI to join him on stage for the song, but he couldn’t find him in time. Bieber also gave a brief performance with Don Toliver at last year’s Rolling Loud festival.
Video of Justin Bieber singing “Snooze” tonight in Toronto! pic.twitter.com/XJCI84g0yy
— Justins Tour Updates (@JustinsTourNews) February 2, 2024
Last March, Bieber announced that he would take a break from touring for a while. “I’m going to be okay, but I need time to rest and get better,” he shared in a statement to fans.
“Earlier this year, I went public about my battle with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, where my face was partly paralysed,” Bieber explained at the time. “As the result of this illness, I was not able to complete the North America leg of the Justice Tour.” He went on to perform six shows in Europe as well as a set at Rock in Rio before deciding that the strain was too much on his body. “After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me,” he said. “I realised that I need to make my health a priority right now.”
