‘I was ashamed’: It’s been two years since Justin spoke to his mother

Growing up as the only child of a young single mum, Justin Bieber was always incredibly close to his mother, Pattie Mallette.

When he made it big after being discovered on YouTube by Scooter Braun, Pattie left her home in Canada to go on the road with her young son.

But fast-forward seven years and the superstar singer admits his relationship with his mother is "pretty non-existing."

Justin blames the breakdown of the relationship on his excessive partying over the last few years. 

As well as two arrests for reckless driving – with alcohol and drugs suspected as the cause – Justin was charged with vandalism in 2014, a conviction which cost him €75,000 plus probation, anger management and community service.

The 21-year-old admits he avoided contact with Pattie during his lowest points because he didn't want to face up to his mistakes.

"I was distant because I was ashamed," he tells Billboard.

"I never wanted my mom to be disappointed in me and I knew she was. We spent some time not talking, so it takes time to rebuild that trust."

Even as far back as 2013, Pattie had begun to take issue with some of her son's lifestyle choices – most notably his growing collection of tattoos.

"That's one of those things that I don't necessarily have to like," she told Entertainment Tonight at the time.

"He's going to make his own decisions."

Pattie now lives in Hawaii, and though Justin is based in Los Angeles full-time, the pair have tentatively started talking again of late.

"It’s hard, but getting better," he says. "She’s an amazing woman and I love her."