Latest news with #WAYITIS
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exploring the friendship between Auston Matthews and Justin Bieber as the NHL star supports his surprise ‘Swag' album
Auston Matthews and Justin Bieber's tight bond grows stronger as NHL star celebrates 'Swag' album drop (Getty Images) Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is clearly vibing with Justin Bieber 's latest musical surprise. Following the unexpected drop of Bieber's 21-track album titled Swag, Matthews shared two Instagram stories over the weekend that sent Leafs fans and Beliebers buzzing alike. Auston Matthews responds to Justin Bieber's surprise 'Swag' album In the first story, Auston Matthews posted Bieber's track 'YUKON' from the album, proudly displaying the black-and-white cover art bearing the title SWAG along with a parental advisory label. Tagging the pop star directly, Matthews added a fire heart emoji — a not-so-subtle endorsement from the NHL star. He doubled down on his support in a second story, sharing 'WAY IT IS,' a collaboration between Bieber and rapper Gunna. The Leafs forward kept it short and expressive, simply writing: 'Yep.' While some fans may find the exchange casual, it's yet another chapter in the deep friendship and mutual admiration between Matthews and Bieber. Their bond has long gone beyond Instagram tags and emoji reactions. Bieber, a die-hard Maple Leafs fan, has not only attended countless games but has even collaborated with the team on special jersey designs in past seasons. Just last month, Bieber showed off his Maple Leafs pride in a heartwarming Instagram post featuring his 10-month-old son, Jack Blues Bieber, dressed in a No. 34 Auston Matthews jersey. The Leafs' official account responded with three blue heart emojis, marking a full-circle moment of support between the player and the pop icon. During the Leafs' most recent playoff run, Bieber and his wife Hailey were spotted in VIP seats behind the team's bench in Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. Though the game ended in a devastating 6-1 loss, Bieber posted a tribute that reminded fans of his unwavering support: 'I don't remember a time in my life when I haven't been obsessed with the leafsssss,' he wrote. 'This year we made it farther than we have in so long and I'm happy about that. I can be patient cuz I know this is the team to do it.' Also Read: Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin gear up to challenge another untouchable Wayne Gretzky record in 2025-26 NHL season Even after Canadian rapper Drake jokingly blamed the 'Bieber curse' for the team's playoff exit, it's clear the loyalty between Bieber and the Leafs—especially with Auston Matthews—is as strong as ever. And with Swag on the speakers, the Maple Leafs' locker room just might have found its newest soundtrack. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Auston Matthews reacts with excitement on social media to Justin Bieber's surprise album swag
Auston Matthews shows support for Justin Bieber's album 'Swag' through Instagram reactions (Image Via IG/@austonmatthews) In a heartwarming crossover from music to sports, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews paid tribute to his longtime supporter Justin Bieber , who had casually dropped an unexpected 21-track album titled Swag. Instead of going for interviews or making formal statements, Matthews shared stories on Instagram featuring some of the album's music with emoji reactions and tagging- a subtle yet unmistakable show of appreciation for both artist and fan. Auston Matthews shows support for Justin Bieber's album 'Swag' through Instagram reactions Auston Matthews reacts with excitement on social media to Justin Bieber's surprise album swag (Image Via IG/@austonmatthews) Auston Matthews remains one of the biggest names in the National Hockey League, often keeping his profile low away from the ice. His commentableness, however, when it comes to cheering for superfans and buddies like Justin Bieber, knows no bounds. He shared two Instagram stories on Saturday showcasing tracks from Swag, shifting the limelight to Bieber's surprise album released the same day. Auston Matthews reacts with excitement on social media to Justin Bieber's surprise album swag (Image Via IG/@austonmatthews) The first post saw Matthews featuring the track 'YUKON' with a black album cover stamped with the word 'SWAG' plus a Parental Advisory sticker. Matthews tagged Bieber's account with a fire-heart emoji that both hockey and music fans took note of. An additional track from the album, 'WAY IT IS" featuring Gunna, would later be shared by Matthews with a pithy yet meaningful caption, "Yep." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beachfront Living in Mumbai at Sunteck Beach Residences Sunteck Realty Learn More Undo Bieber has been a staunch and lifelong Leafs fan. Just a mere few weeks before the album release, the pop star was posting pictures of his infant son Jack Blues Bieber decked out in a Maple Leafs jersey, a not any kind of jersey but one bearing the number 34 of Auston Matthews himself. This post generated a lot of fan chatter before it even elicited a response from the official Leafs Instagram account. This connection goes even further than anything seen online; during the Stanley Cup Playoffs earlier this year, Bieber and his wife Hailey were spotted supporting the team sitting behind the Leafs' bench. Bieber kept posting photos and messages of allegiance even post their elimination. After their exit from the playoffs, pop-culture jokes about a "Bieber curse" were made, but the artist stays true to his blue-and-white support, while Matthews, of course, appreciates Bieber's musical talent. Also Read: Isaak Phillips signs two-year contract with Winnipeg Jets, eyes NHL roster spot Though brief, Auston Matthews' response to Swag reflected an authentic friendship between two icons: one of music and the other of hockey. As Bieber goes on to support the Leafs, Matthews' simple yet earnest response magnifies the mutual admiration that is shared between the star performer and superfan. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
