Justin Bieber reveals 'serious' health condition causing face paralysis
Justin Bieber has opened up about his health after cancelling two concerts in Toronto earlier this week saying he's been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a virus that has left him with a form of facial paralysis.
The pop superstar was scheduled to perform at the Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto on Tuesday and Wednesday but made the last-minute decision to postpone the shows due to what he described at the time as a “sickness.”
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
On Friday, Bieber posted a video to Instagram detailing the extent of his symptoms, in which the right side of his face is visibly paralyzed.
“As you can see, this eye is not blinking,” he said on Instagram. “I can’t smile on this side of my face…there’s full paralysis in the centre of my face.”
READ MORE: What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome? Justin Bieber's diagnosis explained
“So for those frustrated by my cancellations of the next shows, I’m just physically, obviously, incapable of doing them.”
He said that his body is telling him to “slow down” and that he hopes fans understand.
“This is pretty serious as you can see. I wish this wasn’t the case,” he said.
Justin Bieber has announced he has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. (Instagram/Justin Bieber)
“It’s time to just rest and relax and get back to 100 per cent, so that I can do what I was born to do.”
The artist says he is doing facial exercises to help with the paralysis, but he is unsure how long it will take for him to heal.
Canadian former politician Olivia Chow was diagnosed with the same virus back in 2013, which left her with limited movement on one side of her face.
Bieber’s June 10 concert in Washington has also been cancelled. There are no other Canadian stops scheduled in his 2022 World Tour and it’s unclear if any of his other future performances will be postponed.
Scotiabank Arena has previously said that tickets for the cancelled Toronto shows would be honoured when the dates are rescheduled.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.