Justin Bieber Tells GQ What “Sorry” Is Really About

After a rowdy few years full of landmark missteps, mop buckets, and a misplaced monkey, Justin Bieber is ready to reintroduce himself. GQ writer Caity Weaver spent time with Bieber in New York City and at his Beverly Hills suite, where they candidly discussed a range of topics including his relationship with model Hailey Baldwin (“Someone I really love. We spend a lot of time together.”), his faith, and finally growing up. The 21-year-old singer also cleared up any misconceptions about his hit single, “Sorry,” an infectious banger many assumed was a personal apology for all his transgressions. “People ran with that,” he says. “—that I was like, apologizing with that song and stuff. It really had nothing to do with that . . . It was about a girl.”

In fact, Bieber’s public-apology tour was less about forgiveness and more about acknowledging past mistakes. “Everyone when they start growing up realizes, ‘Man, I did some dumb shit when I was younger,’” he says. “It’s not just me . . . If I could go back I wouldn’t really change much. I think it’s all my journey. That stuff made me who I am.”