Fat Joe is opening up about the day he bailed Justin Bieber out of jail — and how it may have ended their friendship.
On the latest episode of his show Joe & Jada (May 29), the Bronx rapper recalled a little-known story from 2014, when he says he stepped in to help a then-19-year-old Bieber after his infamous arrest in Miami Beach.
“We bailed out Bieber, $100,” Joe said.
“It wasn’t no money. A couple hundred, maybe a thousand dollars.”
Official records listed Bieber’s bail at $2,500, but Fat Joe says the real story wasn’t about the money — it was about the moment.
A Thank You Turned Awkward
According to Joe, after Bieber was released, he called to thank him — but then blurted out:
“I’m a gangster now.”
Joe didn’t laugh. He didn’t play along.
Instead, he shut it down with some tough love.
“I said, ‘Yo, Justin. Listen, bro. You gotta stop. We don’t want you gangster,’” Joe recalled.
“We want you singing ‘Baby, baby.’”
The “Real Talk” That Shifted Their Vibe
That honest reaction, Joe says, changed the vibe between them permanently.
“That kinda messed up my relationship with him at that moment,” Joe admitted.
“He felt like I’m the fun killer. I fked up the moment.”**
Instead of playing the role of a hype man, Fat Joe says he chose to speak truthfully — telling Bieber to stay out of trouble and focus on the music that made him a global star.
“We don’t want you on the news. We don’t want you getting arrested. We want you to succeed. You’re Justin Bieber. My daughter worships you!”
Bieber’s Reckless Era: A Known Low Point
That 2014 arrest — for DUI, resisting arrest, and driving without a valid license — was one of many headlines during what fans now refer to as Bieber’s “wild phase.”
Years later, the pop star would reflect on that time, admitting he was lost and spiraling.
“I was hurting, unhappy, confused… angry at God,” Bieber said in a past interview.
“But God was as close to me then as He is now.”
Where Things Stand Now
Fat Joe says he and Bieber have barely spoken since that awkward exchange. While there’s no public beef, the closeness they once shared seems to have faded.
Still, Joe stands by his decision to be honest — even if it cost him a friendship.
“I gave him some real talk. It didn’t land well, but I meant it from the heart.”
Final Word: Real Ones Speak Up
Fat Joe’s story is a reminder that being real with someone isn’t always easy — especially when they’re used to being told “yes.”
While Justin Bieber may have moved on from his rebellious years, the memory of that call — and Fat Joe’s hard truth — still lingers.
What Do You Think?
Was Fat Joe right to shut Bieber down? Or should he have let the moment slide?
💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
