Justin Bieber Once Claimed Shawn Mendes Would Have to “break a few more records” to Steal His Title as a Musician

Canada has produced some of its biggest talents in music, but few as big as Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes. The two singers have risen to fame, dominating charts and creating their own legacy in the world of music.

Since Bieber and Mendes come from the same city, Ontario, they are often compared with each other by their fans. Moreover, their overlapping romantic histories and online banter also added fuel to such comparisons from time to time.

Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes’ Online Feud

Shawn Mendes was once crowned the “Prince of Pop” by Observer magazine, and the singer shared it on his Instagram as well. But what surprised the fans was Justin Bieber’s comment on that post. Bieber, who himself famously held the title earlier, couldn’t avoid poking fun at his compatriot.

Bieber commented (via Elle)-

Hmm…Gonna have to break a few more records to dethrone my title there bud (Canadian voice)..but if you want we can play hockey for it but i heard your [sic] a real bender on the ice we could just drop the buckets and tilt for it.

Some fans initially misinterpreted this exchange as they believed Bieber was throwing shade at Mendes. This made Bieber himself come through with a clarification, stating, “There is no competition and it was a playful joke people relax.”

Their relationship goes well beyond sharing success in music. Two artists have been romantically linked with Hailey Baldwin, now Hailey Bieber, at some point in their careers. However, Mendes said “it was more of a zone of limbo” when asked about dating Baldwin just before she got back together with Bieber. He later told Rolling Stone, 

I texted Hailey, ‘Congratulations,’ [when she got engaged to Bieber] and I really am happy for them. She’s still one of the f*cking coolest people ever—she’s not just a beautiful person visually, but she’s one of the most beautiful hearts I’ve ever met.

Bieber and Mendes sharing Ontario roots is one of the major reasons for their relationship. Bieber, from Stratford, and Mendes, from Pickering, are young Canadians who have earned global success at an early age while maintaining their hometown connections.

Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes’ Sexuality Speculations

Apart from sharing similar media titles, common love interests, and hometowns, both singers also share endless rumors and speculation when it comes to their sexuality. Both Bieber and Mendes have been questioned from time to time about their sexuality.

In a recent Colorado performance, Shawn Mendes addressed such speculations while performing his new song The Mountain. He said (via Pop Base),

The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone, and I don’t really know sometimes, and I know other times. And it feels really scary, because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that, and I’m trying to be really brave and just allow myself to be a human and feel things…And yeah, that’s all I really want to say about that for now.

Bieber has been through similar situations too, but he has dealt with it in a different way. He once posted online kissing his male friend on the cheek which sparked all sorts of rumors. However, he quickly clarified saying, “I’m not gay but even if I was that’s not an insult,” (via London Evening Standard).

The public scrutiny has had a deep impact on both artists to a large extent. Rolling Stone shared that Mendes stated he often had to go out in public with women to deal with the gay rumors he was receiving. Mendes said,

In the back of my heart, I feel like I need to go be seen with someone – like a girl – in public, to prove to people that I’m not gay.

Apart from these, Justin Bieber often had to face the consequences of being sexualized by older celebs and media during his teenage years, which had a significant impact on him. Such experiences highlight the challenges young male pop stars go through while handling their identity and public attention at a young age.