Justin Bieber appeared to be having a good time at the Billboard Music Awards Sunday night, but it sounds like the singer wasn't enjoying himself as much as it seemed. On Monday morning, he took to Instagram to share his feelings on the night, and how everything wasn't as great as it looked. "I don't know about these awards shows," he wrote. "No disrespect to anybody at any of the shows or the people running it. Nothing but love for you guys and your support. But I don't feel good when I'm there nor after."
Bieber went onto say that the events usually end up feeling like one giant critique and rating of his work instead of it feeling like a celebration of the music that's been put out. Also, that "a lot of people in the audience "seem worried about how much camera time they will get or who they can network with."
He compared award shows to his own concert, noting how different each event feels. "When I'm doing a regular show I feel [the audience is] there for the right reasons and to strictly have a good time!" Of course, Bieber is used to performing in front of thousands at a time and has most recently been playing out sold-out arenas on his Purpose World Tour. He took the stage Sunday night as well to perform his top Purpose cuts, "Sorry" and "Company."
Bieber went on to acknowledge his privilege and the honor he has in receiving a vast number of these awards. He even took some new awards home last night at the BBMAs, including "Top Male Artist" and "Top Social Media Artist." Still, he wrote awards shows "lack an authenticity" that he craves and posted the whole note with a very chill picture of a castle and some sheep. Bieber made one more not-so-subtle point with a second Instagram reading, "We all get caught up in striving for the approval of others." You can read his complete, very honest message to his fans below.
