Justin Bieber opens up on half-paralysed face: ‘I have Ramsay Hunt Syndrome’
- The Canadian pop star says he can’t blink with one eye or smile on one side
- He said the condition led him to cancel upcoming shows in his Justice World Tour
Canadian pop star Justin Bieber is opening up about a medical condition that has paralysed half of his face.
The Yummy singer, 28, revealed on Instagram on Friday that he has Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a neurological disorder characterised by facial nerve paralysis.
According to the nonprofit American academic medical centre Mayo Clinic, the syndrome is more common in people over the age of 60 and is triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles.
“Obviously, as you can probably see from my face, I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and it is from this virus that attacks the nerve in my ear and my facial nerves and has caused my face to have paralysis,” Bieber said in the video.
“As you can see, this eye is not blinking,” the singer continued, referencing the left side of his face. “I can’t smile on that side of my face. This nostril will not move. So there’s full paralysis on this side of my face.”
Bieber, who is currently in the midst of his Justice World Tour, added the condition has led him to cancel upcoming performances, which he said he has been physically “not capable” of doing.
“This is pretty serious, as you can see,” he says. “I wish this wasn’t the case, but obviously my body is telling me I gotta slow down, and I hope you guys understand.”
