“Bring out the snakes” — Justin Bieber’s pastor Judah Smith jokingly responds to claims he runs a cult
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Justin Bieber (Photo: Everett Collection)Justin Bieber’s pastor, Judah Smith, addresses rumors that his church, Churchome, was a cult. Smith took to his Instagram on Friday, May 2, 2025, to share a video recalling the time he jokingly responded to a paparazzi asking him about the same.
For the unversed, speculations surrounding Churchome began circulating last month after TMZ reported that Bieber’s long-time associate, Ryan Good, distanced himself from the singer in a year. Citing "sources with direct knowledge," the outlet claimed Good felt Bieber was getting "close" to Judah and that he felt Churchome was a "cult."
In the clip, Judah Smith brought up a recent incident involving "paparazzi," where one "nice lady" point-blank asked if he ran a cult. Noting that he wasn't expecting the question, he is seen humorously turning around, asking the stagehands:
"So guys, if you could bring the snakes out... we've (also) got some blood."
Notably, in popular culture, snakes and blood are stereotypically associated with cult rituals.
Judah Smith officiated Hailey and Justin Bieber's wedding
In the clip shared on Instagram, Judah Smith was seen on stage wearing an olive green jacket over a white t-shirt, jeans, and a beanie as he addressed a crowd. Bringing up the speculations surrounding Churchome, he noted:
"If we're a cult, we're the worst cult in (the) histories of all cults. We meet once a month, guys!"
The pastor continued to add that he stopped having services every Wednesday. Notably, cults are known to preach extreme devotion and total immersion into their beliefs.
Elsewhere in his post, Smith explained that it was the first time for him to experience getting "surrounded" by paparazzi, prompting him to add:
"No guys, my friend's not here."
The pastor was alluding to the Justin Bieber and the cult rumors, which made both Smith and his church make headlines.
It all began on April 11, when Bieber took to his Instagram stories to publicly announce his separation from Drew House, a fashion brand founded by the singer and Ryan Good in 2018. At the time, he wrote:
"(The brand) doesn't represent me or my family or life. If your (sic) rocking with me, the human Justin Bieber, don't waste ur money on Drew House."
On April 22, TMZ reported that Good, Bieber's former road manager and the creative director at Drew House, hadn't spoken to the singer in a year. Citing "sources with direct knowledge," the outlet claimed the discord occurred over Bieber's association with Churchome and its pastor Judah Smith.
Ryan reportedly felt it was a "cult" and "wanted out." Further, he was allegedly not happy with the Peaches crooner "getting close" to the pastor, and it played a big factor in their separation." It is worth noting that Judah Smith officiated Justin Bieber's marriage to Hailey.
Per TMZ, Bieber added Judah Smith to the Drew House board a few years ago, despite the brand's creative director's (Good) misgivings. Notably, Good reportedly felt the move was "weird," especially since Judah was not a businessman.
This sparked concerns among Justin Bieber's fans, many worrying about his mental health. According to People, the concern stemmed from the singer's recent public appearances, including fans spotting him smoke what looked like marijuana at Coachella 2025. Videos circulating online show Hailey walking his 15-year-old brother, Jaxon, who was standing next to him, away from the singer.
Citing an "insider" source, the outlet relayed that Justin Bieber was facing "a lot of different demons" and making "poor decisions" that have impacted his "friendships, money, and business."
Bieber, for his part, has slammed the alleged "gossip" and "lies," especially those surrounding his mental health, in an Instagram post shared on April 23.
TOPICS: Justin Bieber, Judah Smith, Ryan Good, Drew House