Hailey and Justin Bieber appeared slightly unhappy at a festive celebration, sparking speculation about the state of their marriage. The couple attended a Christmas bash, but their demeanor seemed distant, leaving their admirers questioning the cause of their cool reception.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber appeared solemn as they made a joint appearance at a festive gathering. The celebrity couple exuded a sense of seriousness as they attended the event side by side.

The couple arrived at the event holding hands, although they didn’t display much affection. Photos taken outside show Justin, 29, and Hailey, 27, walking together with their arms linked. Despite this, some fans speculated that they seemed unhappy as they wore serious expressions. Justin wore a black blazer over a white shirt, along with a backwards-worn white baseball cap. He paired this with loose black dress pants and matching shoes. Hailey, on the other hand, donned an oversized red coat that reached the floor, wrapping it around herself. She completed her look with semi-sheer black tights, black heels, tiny sunglasses, gold earrings, a sleek updo, and a bold red lip.

Critics on an online forum accused the couple of orchestrating the paparazzi photos themselves. One commenter even suggested that they wanted to generate buzz and present a picture-perfect marriage. Inside the event, photos from a photo booth showed Justin and Hailey, with Hailey feigning a slight smile and Justin maintaining a serious expression. A sarcastic commenter called them “the happy couple,” accompanied by a squiggly mouth emoji. Another person referred to the photo opportunity as a “contractual obligation” in Justin’s arranged marriage.

Although the recent photos of Hailey and Justin may not appear overly affectionate, they have previously shown more loving displays. On December 2, the couple took sexy photos together, cuddling closely. Hailey shared these pictures on her Instagram, wearing a sheer black dress with large holes throughout, revealing her black underwear beneath. Justin stood beside her, and despite rumors of marital issues, they posed looking away from each other. Some fans felt they appeared distant, but others defended their strong connection and referred to them as soulmates.

Hailey and Justin’s marriage has been a topic of discussion for months. Speculations about troubles in their relationship arose when they stopped being seen together. However, they were recently spotted leaving a church service in Beverly Hills, with Hailey wearing all black and Justin in distressed jeans and a tan sweatshirt. Prior to this, they were seen on a date night in Los Angeles, looking solemn and fueling more speculation about the state of their relationship. An insider close to the couple stated that things haven’t been perfect between them, with Justin often acting immature and Hailey having to apologize and attempt to make him behave like an adult.