Fans are freaking out overJustin Bieber— again. The 30-year-old Canadian pop star is back in the spotlight after joining SZA on SoFi Stadium's stage on Friday to sing their 2022 track "Snooze." Audience videos show Bieber closing his eyes while belting the sensual duet with SZA, who is on tour withKendrick Lamar. As Bieber sings, SZA cups his chin with her hand. Bieber smiles at his song partner, then kisses her palm. Videos of the one-stage momentdrew millions of views, and fans are expressing everything from admiration to concern. The internet is debating whether the emotive interaction was merely an intimate exchange between peer artists or an indication that Bieber is not doing as well as his fans would hope. Some said SZA's holding Bieber's face showed her"support and encouragement"for him, especially because hecanceled his world tour to prioritize his health. Meanwhile, others said SZA made this gesture to"reel"Bieber in during the performance, claiming his ardent display of affection toward herwas a signBieber is going through something unbeknownst to fans. USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Bieber and SZA for comment. Bieber has always had a fevered, dedicated fan base. He's grown up in front of them. Because his music illustrates their lives, some Beliebers have developed a parasocial relationship with the star: They claim to know him as well as they claim his art knows them. "We are encouraged through the nature of social media, through the nature of fandom ... to perceive ourselves as being in some sort of relationship with artists whose music we love," Rebekah Moore, assistant professor of music at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, previously told USA TODAY. But we can never really know what's going on with a star, despite how public their life seems. Bieber, a new father who has dealt with health issues in recent years as well as a microscopic intensity focused on his marriage to Hailey Bieber,may appear to be available for anyone to know. But whether it's hiswife's "Vogue" coveror a performance in a sold-out arena, these interactions are mere pixels of a bigger picture and shouldn't be taken as a complete reality. "Whether or not the songs are actually about them (artists), we interpret these songs as something that reflects their inner workings, their emotional realities, their relationship realities," Moore said. "We think we know them because of their art." Bieber deserves as much space as anyone else − though privacy hardly comes easy these days. "In the age of social media, the general public has become trained to share not only their mostprivate moments, but to also expect others to do the same," psychologistReneé Carrpreviously told USA TODAY. Whatever Bieber is going through, it's not our business to speculate. "Public figures need privacy to cope,heal, and develop a strategy to move forward just like everyone else," explained Amy Morin, psychotherapist, author of "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do" and the host of apodcast. "Working through issues privately can give them space to manage their emotions and strategize how to move forward without the distraction of outside opinions." Contributing: David Oliver and Greta Cross This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Justin Bieber's SZA performance has fans freaking out
