At a Glance
- Hailey Bieber and Justin Bieber sent a cease-and-desist letter to TikTok creator Julie Theis over claims about their marriage.
- The letter accuses Theis of manufacturing a “false defamatory narrative” that Justin is an “addict” and that Hailey “tolerates abuse.”
- Theis calls the move intimidation and says she has since received threats of physical harm.
- Why it matters: The clash spotlights the tension between online commentary and celebrity legal action in an era where every post can go viral.
Hailey Bieber has fired a legal warning at a TikTok creator who painted her marriage to Justin Bieber as a toxic relationship built on “tolerating abuse,” documents obtained by TMZ show. The escalation turns a single viral clip into a standoff over free speech, defamation, and the power of celebrity silence.
The Cease-and-Desist Letter
The couple’s attorney, Evan Spiegel, dispatched the letter to Julie Theis after she posted a TikTok analyzing celebrity couples that, in her view, are romanticized because the woman “tolerates mediocrity, abuse, doing the majority of domestic and emotional labor in exchange for being in a relationship.”
Theis singled out the Biebers as her prime example.
“There is no better example than Hailey Bieber and Justin Bieber,” she said in the clip, claiming the pair have stayed together only because Hailey “will tolerate that abuse.” The video also branded Justin an “addict” and alleged abuse within the marriage.
The letter calls the content “wrongful, highly demanding, actionable, and exposes you to sustainable liability.”
The Repost Rumor That Sparked a denial
On January 10, TikTok users circulated screenshots suggesting Hailey herself reposted a video that stitched Theis’ commentary with footage of the couple. The rumor mill spun fast enough that Hailey took to Instagram Stories the same day.
“Hey! I know you guys who live on the internet are really bored, but I didn’t repost any video speaking on my relationship. Have a beautiful Saturday!” she wrote.
Creator Fires Back: “Disagreement Is Not Defamation”
In a statement shared with News Of Los Angeles, Theis defended her content as “clearly opinion-based commentary about relationship dynamics and power.”
She criticized the legal move as an attempt to “intimidate or silence” creators and framed the issue as a broader threat to public discourse.
“This situation isn’t about defamation; it’s about whether independent voices are allowed to express opinions about public and powerful figures without being met with legal pressure,” she said.
Theis added that since the dispute went public, she has “received messages containing explicit threats of physical harm – real crimes – in response to an opinion.” She did not accuse the Biebers directly but noted that many messages come from anonymous accounts.
A Seven-Year History of Online Scrutiny
Hailey has spent years batting down rumors about her and Justin’s relationship. In a May Vogue profile, she admitted she thought the chatter would fade by now.
“Well, I thought seven years in it would’ve already, and it hasn’t,” she said. “You would think after having a child, people would maybe move on, chill out a little bit, but no.”
The couple wed in 2018, held a larger ceremony in 2019, and welcomed son Jack Blues in August 2024.
Inside Source: “They Truly Believe They Are Soulmates”
A source previously told News Of Los Angeles that overcoming “challenges” has only tightened their bond.
“They’ve had challenges like anyone else, but they always come back to the same thing: They truly believe they are soulmates,” the insider said after the couple’s seventh wedding anniversary. “Becoming parents has only deepened their bond – Jack is the center of everything for them.”
The Legal Stakes
The cease-and-desist does not amount to a lawsuit, but it signals the couple’s readiness to pursue court action if Theis continues to post similar content. The letter’s language – “actionable” and “sustainable liability” – mirrors standard legal phrasing meant to pressure a creator into compliance without entering a courtroom.
The Broader Creator vs. Celebrity Battle
The dispute lands in a growing battlefield where influencers dissect celebrity relationships in real time, and stars push back with legal muscle. Theis frames her commentary as fair opinion about public figures; the Biebers frame it as defamatory fabrication. The clash raises the stakes for every creator who relies on hot takes for views and every celebrity whose personal life feeds the algorithm.
News Of Los Angeles reached out to the Biebers’ representatives and attorney for further comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Key Takeaways
- A single TikTok calling out “tolerated abuse” inside the Bieber marriage triggered a legal warning.
- Hailey denies reposting the critical clip, calling internet rumors baseless.
- The creator refuses to back down, citing free speech and reporting threats she has since received.
- The episode adds another chapter to the couple’s long history of online speculation and their efforts to control the narrative.
