Charlie Puth revealed that his lip ring wasn’t genuine and shared that he spoke very differently a decade ago, admitting he now finds his past behavior embarrassing.
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Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The singer-songwriter told Rolling Stone that he was putting on an act, believing he needed to behave a certain way in order to gain popularity.
Charlie Puth recently acknowledged that parts of his earlier public image now make him uncomfortable.
Speaking with Rolling Stone in an interview published Tuesday, Jan. 20, the 34-year-old artist looked back on earlier stages of his career, admitting that he often presented a version of himself that didn’t feel genuine. He explained that there was a time when his behavior and image were driven more by perception than authenticity.
While talking about a track from his upcoming album Whatever’s Clever! titled “I Used to Be Cringe,” Puth opened up about how he portrayed himself in the public eye during his early rise to fame. He revealed that even details like the lip ring he once wore were part of an act rather than a true expression of who he was.
He explained that around 2016, he consciously altered the way he spoke during interviews and appearances, sometimes adopting what he described as a “cool-guy” persona because he believed that was expected of him while having a hit song. Looking back, he said he felt pressured to fit a mold in order to be accepted and successful.
Puth attributed much of this behavior to immaturity and uncertainty, noting that he was still figuring himself out and was heavily influenced by people around him. He shared that advice from record label executives or former managers occasionally made sense, which led him to trust them even when they encouraged exaggerated stories or image changes to generate buzz.
Ultimately, Puth said those manufactured choices never reflected his true identity. He admitted that revisiting footage or memories from roughly 2015 to 2022 is difficult, as he feels disconnected from the person he was at the time and recognizes how lost he felt.
One example he pointed to as particularly embarrassing was dyeing his hair blond solely to spark attention — a moment he references directly in his new song. He also recalled being told to make provocative or untrue statements in interviews to add excitement to his projects, including comments from industry figures who believed he needed a more eye-catching persona.
At the time, Puth said, he hadn’t yet learned what it truly meant to be an artist.
More recently, it was announced that Puth will take the stage ahead of Super Bowl LX, where he is scheduled to perform the national anthem, joined by Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones.
