Justin Bieber Cries After ‘Where Are U Now’/’What Do You Mean?’ MTV Video Music Awards Performance

Justin Bieber returned to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards stage for the first time in five years on Sunday, and ended his performance in tears.

Justin Bieber Cries

Bieber’s 2015 MTV Video Music Awards performance started off with his summer hit “Where Are U Now” before moving into his recent single “What Do You Mean.” The 21-year-old singer brought out some serious dance moves before heading into the audience and reaching out towards his fans.

When the stage went dark, Bieber delivered a spoken-word interlude about life.

“Life is a journey. Sometimes a battle, full of the unexpected. Sometimes we focus on the destination, and forget to focus on that journey,” said Bieber, who has been working towards a career comeback. “But when you fall, it allows you to get up stronger. It allows you to lean not on your own understanding. Give in to faith, and believe in something bigger than yourself. And find your purpose.”

Bieber then literally shot up above the stage, lifted by a harness, and did a couple of flips mid air before returning to the stage. Seeing the standing ovation before him, Bieber was overcome with emotion and started sobbing.

After a string of run-ins with the law and getting caught in a number of unflattering incidents, public opinion started turning against Bieber. Over the last year or so, the former child YouTube star has been making an effort to win back the good graces of fans and peers. The positive reception Sunday night overwhelmed the singer.

“He worked so hard not just on the performance but himself,” an insider told Gossip Cop. “He didn’t know how people would accept him. When he saw them on their feet cheering, he was overwhelmed.”

“Last time he was on an award show he was booed,” the sourced added “This time he was cheered for. It meant a lot to him.”

Following his VMA performance, Bieber dropped the music video for “What Do You Mean?” Already, the video has more than 4 million views on YouTube.

“What Do You Mean” music video