Justin Bieber Slams Apple Over Frustrating iPhone Feature
UPDATE: Justin Bieber has taken to social media to express his outrage over an annoying feature on Apple iPhones, igniting widespread support from users and design experts alike.
In a series of posts on X and Instagram on December 6, 2025, Bieber targeted the iPhone’s dictation feature, which he claims disrupts his music and communication. “If I hit this dictation button after sending a text and it beeps and stops my music one more time, I’m gonna find everyone at Apple and put them in a rear naked choke hold,” he vented. This relatable frustration struck a chord with many, including Ian Silber, head of product design at OpenAI, who responded positively to Bieber’s critique.
Bieber shared a screenshot of his iMessage, highlighting the intrusive dictation button, which users often hit by accident. His posts have garnered thousands of reactions, reflecting a collective annoyance with this design flaw. Silber even extended an invitation to Bieber, saying, “you’re officially invited to our weekly design crits.”
This social media outburst from the pop star coincides with a challenging week for Apple, which has seen significant leadership shakeups. Just days prior to Bieber’s comments, Apple announced that John Giannandrea, senior vice president for machine learning and AI strategy, will step down and transition into an advisory role until his retirement in 2026. On December 4, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of human interface design, will lead a new creative studio at Meta, after nearly two decades at Apple.
Further compounding Apple’s troubles, Lisa Jackson, the company’s vice president for environment, policy, and social initiatives, announced her retirement effective late January 2026. Additionally, Kate Adams, Apple’s general counsel since 2017, will also retire next year. These departures highlight a potential leadership crisis as Apple faces fierce competition from AI powerhouses like OpenAI and Meta.
OpenAI has made strides in the tech space, launching its own version of an app store in October 2025, which poses a direct challenge to Apple. Former Apple CEO John Sculley even stated that OpenAI is Apple’s “first real competitor” in decades. Meanwhile, Jony Ive, Apple’s former chief design officer, is collaborating with OpenAI on a project speculated to compete with the iPhone, although details remain under wraps.
Bieber’s frustrations resonate with consumers who feel the impact of design decisions on their daily lives. The urgency of his message, amplified by the current discontent surrounding Apple’s leadership and product design, underscores a pivotal moment for the tech giant. As users rally behind Bieber’s call for change, all eyes will be on how Apple responds to this public outcry and navigates its leadership challenges.
Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops and more users join the conversation surrounding this pressing issue.
