Hailey Bieber: Delusional or genius?

Photo courtesy of Kira143 / Wikimedia Commons

Hailey Bieber has recently become the target of internet drama, with accusations that she stalked her now-husband, Justin Bieber, for over a decade.

Hailey Bieber, wife of singer Justin Bieber and daughter to famous actor Stephen Baldwin, has been the subject of online hostility. Whether over allegations of mocking and copying Selena Gomez, cultural appropriation, or simply not recognizing her own nepotism, Hailey Bieber cannot catch a break from the endless spew of criticism she has faced since 2019.  

With the recent virality of a TikTok mini-documentary series titled "Hailey Bieber's Dangerous Decade-Long Obsession," it is safe to say that 2025 is off to a rocky start for Hailey Bieber, the model and founder of the skincare brand Rhode. The seven-part series, with views in the millions, frames Hailey as a “psycho-stalker” and superfan of Justin Bieber years before their marriage. 

While this Gossip-Girl-esque commentary reached audiences through TikTok, its origin is a 20-minute YouTube video (now taken down) created by user @internetoddities. In the video, the creator theorizes that Hailey knew exactly who the beloved pop singer was since he was 15 years old, and like other little girls at the time, had an immense case of Bieber fever— a trend-like obsession over the rising pop star. 

For many fans, marrying your childhood celebrity crush is a dream come true. Having a famous father with connections definitely gives you a leg up amongst the competition— nearly every teenage girl in the US. So, it’s no surprise that a video has surfaced showing a young Hailey Baldwin standing shyly behind her father as she meets her idol, Justin Bieber. 

Additionally, there is footage of Hailey watching Justin Bieber during his performances, appearing on the sidelines of the red carpet, and even spying on a movie date with Selena Gomez, his girlfriend at the time. While this might seem strange, it is also possible that these encounters were coincidental, as Hailey’s famous father has connections to events where their paths may have naturally crossed.

The problematic part of her admiration, however— where many online viewers think this innocent pining turns into obsession —is exposed in a YouTube video where Dana, a Justin Bieber superfan who ran a famous fan account, alleges that Hailey stalked Justin Bieber in New York City. Dana claims that living in New York City gave her the proper resources to know a lot about Justin Bieber, and apparently, young Hailey would follow and befriend her for information. In her video, Dana provides screenshots of messages from Hailey, asking for intel on Justin Bieber’s location, such as the hotel he was staying at, so she could either book a room there or dine at the restaurant. 

Evidently, Hailey’s end goal was to cross paths with Bieber as much as possible, a calculated scheme accurately described by Dana as “her 10-year-plan.” This was the source of outrage for many online,  who labeled her a “crazy stalker” who pulled strings to premeditate an entire marriage. 

If this is true— because let’s face it, sometimes the internet paints a false narrative —the jokes about Justin Bieber marrying his own stalker may be a little more accurate than funny. Most can agree that it’s wrong to intrude on the privacy of others, even if you do not directly interact with them. 

Everyone emphasizes how insane this entire story is, and I do not disagree. While we do not have concrete confirmation, the evidence is not stacked in Hailey Bieber’s favor. What I feel is not talked about enough, however, is how this alleged “master plan” actually worked.