Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding day was the talk of the town for weeks leading up to the event. While the couple tried to keep the details of their nuptials secret, it didn’t take long for the information to leak out. By the time Gomez’s grandfather walked her down the aisle, everyone in the free world knew she was getting married on September 27. That fact makes Pattie Mallette’s social media activity especially interesting. Mallette, who is Justin Bieber’s mother, took to Instagram in the days leading up to Gomez’s wedding to ask for prayers for Bieber. She didn’t elaborate on why she was asking for prayers, and that has allowed followers, fans, and critics to run wild with theories. Most seem to think Justin Bieber might be feeling down now that Selena Gomez has officially tied the knot.

Pattie Mallette’s ill-timed Instagram post has fans thinking Justin Bieber is struggling with Selena Gomez’s wedding

Pattie Mallette has taken some of the spotlight off of Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding by asking for prayers for her son in the days before his ex-girlfriend’s nuptials. Five days before the Montecito wedding ceremony, Mallette posted a series of photos of her son wearing a “Pray for Me” t-shirt to Instagram. The black and white images appear haunting. Mallette took to the caption to ask for prayers for her son, declaring “healing” over Bieber. She didn’t clarify what, if anything, prompted the sudden call for prayer.

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Justin Bieber’s mother is not a daily Instagram user. She tends to share snapshots about once per month, so the timing of her prayer post feels especially odd. It is unclear whether it was a deliberate decision. Still, surely she must be aware of how it would appear to fans and followers, considering the hype surrounding the Gomez-Blanco wedding and the theories and rumors that have followed her son and his ex-girlfriend.

Justin Bieber has fed into the rumors in his own way

Pattie Mallette’s post didn’t help to shore up her son’s image. Asking for prayers indicates someone is going through something serious. Like it or not, the timing has led followers to make assumptions. Bieber, himself, has done little to make it look like he’s completely past his former relationship and happy to see his ex thrive. Since announcing her engagement and subsequent album with Blanco, Bieber has appeared to make subtle digs at Gomez.

For example, he posted a photo of Golllum holding a ring around the time Blanco and Gomez were doing their press tour. The meme suggested that recently engaged women act like Gollum with the ring from The Lord of the Rings.

He’s also made subtle comments that suggest he might be feeling downtrodden or stuck in a life he doesn’t want. Fans have largely interpreted some of his bleaker posts to be about Gomez’s exit from his life. It occasionally feels like a reach, though. Bieber doesn’t speak about Selena Gomez in interviews, and she doesn’t speak of him by name, either. Still, fans are convinced he’s upset by the pairing of Gomez and Blanco. He would have reason to be bothered. Not only did he spend nearly a decade dating the “Bluest Flame” singer, but Blanco was a business associate and friend before he linked up with Gomez. That work relationship is obviously over.

Where was he on the day Selena and Benny got hitched?

While Justin Bieber’s mother was on Instagram looking for prayers for her boy, he was out and about. On the day of Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding, Bieber kept himself busy. He posted a series of shots on Instagram from a basketball game he played in. The day before the nuptials, as Gomez and Blanco were entertaining guests at their rehearsal dinner, Bieber was spotted at a music studio. Everything seemed normal for the “Love Yourself” singer on the day of the wedding. The following day, things took a strange turn. Bieber has taken to posting excerpts from a book to his social media, including pages about toxic mindsets and interpretations.

Hailey Bieber kept herself similarly occupied. According to TMZ, she hit the DMV on Friday and was spotted around town over the weekend. She, like Bieber, has been sharing excerpts from a book. It is unclear if she’s reading the title, too. Hailey appears to be simply resharing the portions her husband finds interesting. Followers find the subject matter of the excerpts to be a bit suspicious, though.