In TMZ Investigates: What Happened to Justin Bieber, several of the singer’s former close friends come forward with allegations suggesting that Bieber is deeply influenced by a church they describe as operating like a cult.
At the center of the controversy is Churchome, a Beverly Hills-based congregation led by Pastor Judah Smith. According to the documentary, Bieber’s inner circle once included Churchome members — including Ryan Good, the singer’s former creative director and best man at his wedding — who has since distanced himself from the church. Good reportedly left after growing concerned about the organization’s methods and its potential cult-like dynamics.
“The pastor is in his ear,” said one former friend, implying that Smith wields significant influence over Bieber’s personal and spiritual decisions.
The film also alleges that Bieber and Pastor Smith once confronted the singer’s longtime manager, Scooter Braun, pressing him about his Jewish background and his beliefs in Jesus. The incident, former friends claim, highlighted an unsettling level of religious pressure from Churchome’s leadership.
In response to the mounting accusations, Pastor Judah Smith took to social media to defend the church. “What kind of a cult only meets once a month?” he said, dismissing the claims as unfounded.
The documentary has sparked widespread discussion about Bieber’s inner circle, his faith journey, and the broader implications of celebrity influence within religious spaces.
