Justin Bieber has revealed that he has suffered temporary facial paralysis from Ramsay Hunt syndrome just days after being forced to cancel dates on his Justice World Tour.
The 28-year-old pop star took to his Instagram on Friday to share a three-minute video explaining the diagnosis which is a complication of shingles that can lead to facial paralysis.
Justin’s right eye was unable to blink and the right side of his face did not move as he began the video saying: ‘Hey everyone Justin here, I wanted to update you guys on what’s been going on.
Sad news: Justin Bieber has revealed that he has suffered facial paralysis from Ramsay Hunt syndrome just days after cancelling dates on his Justice World Tour, as he said that he cannot blink or move the right side of his face
Tough: The 28-year-old pop star took to his Instagram on Friday to share a three-minute video explaining the diagnosis which is a complication of shingles that can lead to facial paralysis
‘Obviously as you can probably see with my face. I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome and it is from this virus that attacks the nerves in my ear and my facial nerves and has caused my face to have paralysis.’
On Tuesday, the artist had announced that he was postponing the ‘next few shows’ of his seven-leg, 130-date Justice World Tour due ‘non-Covid related illness.’
‘Can’t believe I’m saying this. I’ve done everything to get better but my sickness is getting worse,’ the 28-year-old pop star – who boasts 539.2M social media followers – wrote.
Justin’s right eye was unable to blink and the right side of his face did not move as he began the video saying: ‘Hey everyone Justin here, I wanted to update you guys on what’s been going on’
‘Obviously as you can probably see with my face. I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome and it is from this virus that attacks the nerves in my ear and my facial nerves and has caused my face to have paralysis,’ Justin continued
Announcement: On Tuesday, the artist had announced that he was postponing the ‘next few shows’ of his seven-leg, 130-date Justice World Tour due ‘non-Covid related illness’ (pictured Friday)
The pop star wrote: ‘Can’t believe I’m saying this. I’ve done everything to get better but my sickness is getting worse. My heart breaks that I will have to postpone these next few shows (doctors orders). To all my people I love you so much and I’m gonna rest and get better’
‘My heart breaks that I will have to postpone these next few shows (doctors orders). To all my people I love you so much and I’m gonna rest and get better.’
In the clip posted on Friday, Justin showed the devastating effects to his diagnosis as he showed how his eye wasn’t blinking, can’t smile, and nostril will not move all on the right side of his face.
He explained: ‘So there is full paralysis on this side my face. So for those who are frustrated by my cancellations of the next shows, I’m just physically obviously not capable of doing them. This is pretty serious as you can see.
Scary: Justin showed the devastating effects to his diagnosis as he showed how his eye wasn’t blinking, can’t smile, and nostril will not move all on the right side of his face
He explained: ‘So there is full paralysis on this side my face. So for those who are frustrated by my cancellations of the next shows, I’m just physically obviously not capable of doing them. This is pretty serious as you can see’
WHAT IS RAMSAY HUNT SYNDROME? THE RARE COMPLICATION OF SHINGLES THAT LEADS TO FACIAL PARALYSIS
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a complication of shingles, caused by the same virus as chickenpox (VZV), that can lead to facial paralysis.
The virus becomes reactivated after laying dormant for years and causes inflammation and irritation on the facial nerves.
VZV is harmless unless it is reactivated and should this happen new symptoms will appear.
The virus can be reactivated when the immune system is weakened, and less able to fight off infection. Stress is often a trigger.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a complication of shingles that can lead to facial paralysis
Figures suggest that five in every 100,000 adults in the US will develop RHS. It poses a similar threat in the UK, according to the NHS.
Children are rarely affected by RHS, as the complication most often affects adults in their 60s.
Treatment usually involves antiviral medication. Doctors recommend seeking help within three days of the start of symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
- Facial muscles droop
- Difficulty closing the eye
- Altered taste
- Loss of facial expression
- Difficulty eating, drinking and speaking
‘I wish this wasn’t the case but obviously my body is telling me that I’ve got to slow down and I hope you guys understand. I will be using this time to rest and relax and get back to 100 percent so that I can do what I was born to do.’
This has not been an easy year for the Bieber family as Justin’s wife Hailey was hospitalized in March for a small blood clot in her brain which gave her stroke-like symptoms.
It was reported at the time that Justin would not leave his 25-year-old wife’s side during her traumatic ordeal.
Sources told People in March, Justin ‘is probably more traumatized than even she is.’
‘When it happened, there was a lot of panic. Justin was crying, because you don’t expect your young wife to have symptoms that resemble a stroke. Justin texted everyone he knew and asked everyone to pray for her, and he never left her side,’ the insider said.
Justin had recently recovered from a bout of COVID-19 just weeks prior where he was forced to reschedule a few dates of his tour, his first major set of performances since ending the Purpose world tour in 2017.
Hailey revealed on Instagram she was hospitalized in Palm Springs back in March following ‘stroke-like’ symptoms, and found out she actually suffered a ‘small blood clot.’
Trying year: This has not been an easy year for the Bieber family as Justin’s wife Hailey was hospitalized in March for a small blood clot in her brain which gave her stroke-like symptoms, they are seen together at The Grammys in April
Hailey detailed the ordeal online in a lengthy Instagram post: ‘On Thursday morning, I was sitting at breakfast with my husband when I started having stroke-like symptoms and was taken to the hospital’
Sources told PEOPLE magazine that Justin has been worried sick about his wife despite her pleas for him to stay as stress-free as possible as she recovers from the incident.
‘Hailey doesn’t want anyone to worry about her, but it was a terrifying situation for both of them,’ the insider said. ‘Justin is still very worried. He can barely sleep. He stays up watching her while she rests.’
The insider added: ‘He would’ve done anything to help her. It was a moment for them both to be reminded about mortality, and focusing on what really matters.
Devoted: It was reported at the time that Justin would not leave his 25-year-old wife’s side during her traumatic ordeal; pictured at the Met Gala in 2021
‘He realizes, and is telling people around him, how much Hailey is his rock, and how she saved him from a dark time … and that he needs to appreciate her every day. He’s going to keep an eye on her and help her however he can. And he has everyone around him praying for her continued good health. It shook him up.’
Hailey detailed the ordeal online in a lengthy Instagram post: ‘On Thursday morning, I was sitting at breakfast with my husband when I started having stroke-like symptoms and was taken to the hospital.’
‘They found I had suffered a very small blood clot to my brain, which caused a small lack of oxygen, but my body had passed it on its own and I recovered completely within a few hours.’
‘Hailey is his rock’: Justin had recently recovered from a bout of COVID-19 just weeks prior where he was forced to reschedule a few dates of his tour, his first major set of performances since ending the Purpose world tour in 2017
She added: ‘Although this was definitely one of the scariest moments I’ve ever been through, I’m home now and doing well, and I’m so grateful and thankful to all the amazing doctors and nurses who took care of me!’
‘Thank you to everyone who has reached out with well wishes and concern, and for all the support and love.’
According to sources close to her, Hailey’s medical condition was affecting her movement in some way and they shared that she had undergone tests to find the origin of her illness.
Doctors were concerned that her symptoms might have been related to COVID-19 since Justin had been diagnosed with the virus earlier in March, but no conclusive evidence could be established.
Interesting: Doctors were concerned that her symptoms might have been related to COVID-19 since Justin had been diagnosed with the virus earlier in March, but no conclusive evidence could be established.; pictured in an Instagram post shared in March