Pattie Mallette, Justin Bieber’s mom, was a victim of sexual abuse at a young age and it prompted feelings of shame and guilt. She felt as if something was wrong with her. The shame was so intense that she used alcohol and drugs to numb the pain, and when that didn’t work, she attempted suicide. When she was 17 years old she became pregnant with Justin. Those around her encouraged her to have an abortion, but to Pattie abortion wasn’t an option.

In an interview with Today’s Kathie Lee Gifford, Mallette explained why she went through with the pregnancy. “I just knew I couldn’t. I just knew I had to keep him,” she said. “And, do the best.  I didn’t know how I was going to do it. But I just knew that I couldn’t — I couldn’t abort. … I had to see what I could do. And I was determined to do whatever it took.”

Mallette went on to say that when she heard Justin cry for the first time it sounded like music. “I know this sounds crazy, but he sounded like he was singing.” she said. “It was like this, like, ‘A hah, ahah.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it is so precious and amazing. I just want to squeeze him.’”

Justin’s own opinions on abortion have earned a swift backlash from liberal-leaning magazines and television shows, in particular the acerbic The View. In a 2011 interview with Rolling Stone, Justin wasn’t sure about which political party to support, was a little shaky on premarital sex, but was very clear on abortion. “I really don’t believe in abortion,” he said. “It’s like killing a baby.” When asked about in cases of rape, Justin replied, “Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I don’t know how that would be a reason.”

The View’s Joy Behar said that Justin’s comment that “everything happens for a reason” is “really insulting to people who have been raped or victims of incest. There is no ‘reason’ for that.” Both KaDee Strickland and Behar worried that Justin’s comments might influence young girls (to do what? Not get an abortion?). While Barbara Walters said she wasn’t sure the questions were appropriate for someone Justin’s age, Elisabeth Hasselbeck believed that “his responses are valuable,” and that Justin “is a young man, not a little boy, who has huge impact on people.”

Here’s an upbeat positive song we would’ve missed if Justin’s mom hadn’t chosen life.

Coming Saturday: “Celebrities Saved From Abortion: What the World Would Have Lost Without Cher.”

If you missed earlier stories in our series:
“Celebrities Saved From Abortion: What the World Would Have Lost Without Andre Bocelli.”
“Celebrities Saved From Abortion: What the World Would Have Lost Without Celine Dion.”