Hailey Bieber Says She ‘So Badly’ Wants Kids But Fear of Them Being Harassed Stops Her

In an interview with the Sunday Times, model Hailey Bieber opened up about her desire to have kids with her husband Justin Bieber, and what’s holding her back. The 26-year-old says she’s quite torn about the decision because of how any children they have will be in the spotlight. Hailey experienced it herself as the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, and Justin came to fame when he was still a kid, too.

“I literally cry about this all the time!” Hailey shared. “I want kids so bad but I get scared. It’s enough that people say things about my husband or my friends. I can’t imagine having to confront people saying things about a child.”

But that possibility hasn’t changed her mind against it completely.

“We can only do the best we can to raise them,” the Rhode founder explained. “As long as they feel loved and safe.”

In April this year, Hailey opened up about some of the online attention she’d been receiving after fans of Selena Gomez believed she was mocking the pop star on TikTok. Gomez dated Justin on and off for almost a decade before he ended up with his wife, and they can’t seem to shake the association.

“I like to make jokes about how I feel because sometimes it’s easier than admitting I’m having a hard time,” Hailey wrote in a now deleted Instagram Story. “But truthfully since 2023 started I have had some of the saddest, hardest moments I’ve ever had in my adult life and my mind and emotions have been fragile to say the least. And I know so many other people feel the same way I feel, so just know you’re not alone.”

The model expanded on what she’d meant while talking to the UK publication.

“I just felt like I was going through a lot of uncomfortable growth,” she said. “Whenever you’re transitioning from one time of your life to another, it’s really uncomfortable and it can be really sad… I was just trying to connect with other people who might feel that way.”

She added, “People say, ‘Oh, you think we feel bad for you?’ And I get it. It’s just sad sometimes that that would be how people feel about you wanting to express your emotions.”

Both the Biebers have been dealing with health issues the past year after Hailey suffered a mini-stroke, discovering she had Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), a heart condition. Justin was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can cause partial facial paralysis, forcing him to cancel tour dates.

“The day after I was hospitalized, it was on the internet,” Hailey said of her diagnosis. “I wanted to talk about what happened in my own words because so many people were making assumptions.”

She continued, “If you let things like that silence you, you’re allowing people to dictate how you live your life. Sometimes I do just want to curl up and be a hermit, like, ‘If this is how people feel maybe I should just stay home.’ But I’m really not that kind of person.”

Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.