The Biebs had himself a rather emotional MTV VMA Awards show, breaking down and shedding some tears following his live performance. So much emotion, what led the young man to all those feels?

Justin went on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon to explain and laid it all bare. It seems the overwhelmingly positive response to his new album made a nice change from his previous awards show appearance, one that ended in jeers.

Here’s TIME with why Justin believes he went through those dark days:

“I had a bunch of knuckleheads around me, that was pretty much it,” he explained. “I just went through a place of trying to figure it out … You have to figure out what you’re okay with and you’re not okay with, but you have to test the waters. I just happened to be in the spotlight, in front of cameras all the time, and they caught all those moments.”

You did have some moments my man but, if the record-breaking success of your new single is anything to go by, the public have forgiven you.

[source:time]