Justin Bieber brought in his 29th birthday with a bang.
The Changes singer, who turned 29 on March 1, shared photos from his party over the weekend. One of the pics from the festivities was an engraved lighter that reads “I’m so thankful that I didn’t end up with what I thought I wanted.”
Alfredo Flores, a music video director and friend of Bieber, also posted the lighter on Twitter:
Various observers assumed the object containing the inscription was a dig at Justin’s ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez amid her feud with his wife Hailey.
“Admitting that your wife was your second choice on your birthday is crazy lmao selena truly lives in his mind rent free,” one user on Twitter wrote. Another added, “@justinbieber hitting an all time low on his 29th birthday. Getting pettier every year.”
Per Page Six, the lighter was gifted to Justin and was not an actual party favor. A source told the outlet that the inscription is not related to Hailey and Gomez’s social media drama. “It’s not what people want it to be around,” the insider said.
Following fans’ speculation about the lighter, Justin did not make any statements about the matter.
Gomez recently encouraged fans to practice kindness in her latest TikTok video, admitting her “heart has been heavy.”
“Thank you and love you all so much. I’m deeply grateful for each and every one of you humans. You make me unbelievably happy,” Gomez wrote in the comments section of her makeup tutorial. “Please, please be kinder and consider others’ mental health. My heart has been heavy and I only want good for everyone. All my love.”