Justin Bieber may have stolen the show at the just-concluded Grammys by performing in boxer shorts, but reports suggest it wasn’t something that was planned.
The singer was nominated in 4 categories but didn’t go home with any award. However, he managed to set tongues wagging with what appears to be a new ink of his wife, Hailey.
A body language expert has since shared that Justin Bieber’s demeanor communicated a sense of “vulnerability,” following what had been a run of negative headlines for the singer.
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Justin Bieber Didn’t Plan To Perform In Shorts
Justin Bieber delighted fans with a sonorous performance of his song “Yukon” at the 2026 Grammy Awards held inside Los Angeles’ crypto.com Arena.
However, the 31-year-old singer set tongues wagging as he stripped to a light purple, custom satin boxers from his SKYLRK brand for the set, pairing the casual look with a pair of angel socks.
Yet, Grammys executive producer Ben Winston shared in his Monday appearance on “Rolling Stone Music Now podcast” that Bieber didn’t plan for it and probably came to the conclusion as he took to the stage.
“I don’t think he decided what the outfit would be until he walked on stage,” Winston explained, per the Daily Mail.
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The music executive went further to share that Bieber wanted to keep his performance simple and light as he wanted the focus to be on his music.
“He’s not even really going, ‘This is what I’m going to do.’ When we had reached out to him about his creative, he was just like, ‘I’m just going to get on stage and sing,'” Winston shared.
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The Singer Rehearsed For Only 15 Minutes
The performance marked Bieber’s first in 4 years at the Grammys, following an extended stretch of concerning headlines in recent years.
He was nominated in 4 categories, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for “Swag,” Best Pop Solo Performance for “Daisies,” and Best R&B Performance for “Yukon.” However, he didn’t take home any awards.
According to the news outlet, Winston shared that Bieber had a “brilliant” rehearsal for just 15 minutes before his performance.
“We are seven minutes into his hour-and-a-half rehearsal. And he goes, ‘How’d it look to you? You happy with it?'” he narrated.
“And I was like, ‘Oh, my God. It looked beautiful. I loved it.’ And he went, ‘Okay, fantastic. See you Sunday!'” Winston added.
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Justin Bieber’s Performance In His Underwear Received Mixed Reactions
The pop star’s performance in his underwear drew mixed reactions from fans, with some praising him for sounding and looking healthy.
One person noted, “Say whatever you want about Justin but one thing you can’t say is that the boy can’t sing, his vocals are out of this world.”
However, amid the praise, several criticized Bieber for his choice of outfit for his performance, with many pointing out how he arrived at the show fully clothed.
“Came wearing full clothes and performing in underwear. This poor guy is broke,” a person wrote on X.
Another said, “I liked his vocals and how he did his own beat that was cool. Would’ve been way better with clothes on .“
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The Singer’s Demeanor Communicates One Of Vulnerability
While Bieber serenaded the crowd with “Yukon,” which he previously revealed was about his wife Hailey, the cameras panned towards her and captured her smiling with pride and satisfaction. Despite returning home that night without any awards, Bieber has earned 23 Grammy nominations across his career and has gone home with 2 wins.
Over the last few years, he has sparked fan fears for his health, as well as seemingly removed himself from the public eye.
Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that Bieber’s demeanor portrays one of “vulnerability,” and that his “touching, pared-back performance looked emotionally telling.”
“The core body language signal seemed to be one of vulnerability. Justin’s walk was an amble, with his shoulders held in a self-protective hunch,” she explained. “When he stood alone on stage he adopted a fig leaf pose with his hands in a self-protective barrier ritual.”
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The Singer’s Outfit Wasn’t A Fashion Statement
James also highlighted how Bieber’s audience couldn’t see his eyes because he “sang with them looking down,” adding that his choice of boxer shorts added to “the look of vulnerability.”
“This was no body-boasting fashion statement,” she explained. “So many of the celebrities had walked the red carpet in various stages of undress, but Justin didn’t use his wearing of underwear as a posing boast or a showing off of his pecs and tattoos in any peacocking ritual; he just looked as though he’d slipped out of his suit as some kind of gesture of honesty and soul-baring.”
She also noted that he “performed as though he hadn’t noticed he had an audience,” but then shared that this “didn’t stop Hailey’s beam of pride from the stalls and even a little finger-pinch signal to the camera to suggest she knew he’d surprise and stun them all with this touching, raw performance.”