A body language expert has provided insight into an uncomfortable exchange between Justin Bieber and Trevor Noah during the Grammys.
Trevor Noah hosted the event on February 1, and for the most part, it proceeded smoothly, aside from a few mishaps involving Cher.
As part of his hosting duties, Noah engaged with the celebrities present, sharing jokes as he made his way through the audience. His conversation with Justin and Hailey Bieber, however, seemed to take an awkward turn, sparking reactions from social media users.
During his interaction with Bieber, the singer appeared largely unmoved, prompting speculation about any existing tension between them. One social media user remarked, “Do Trevor Noah and Justin Bieber have some sort of beef or? That was painful to watch.”
Noah said: “This man has done so many amazing things. His album Swag nominated, four Grammy nominations. And I think, better than any Grammy, he’s come back as a new dad. Congratulations to both of you.”
“My personal favorite thing Justin Bieber has done over the past year is,” Noah explained, “he told Apple to move the dictation button on the keyboard. Hero, Justin. Now I just need you to tell them to make a new feature where, when you search on your phone, it finds things. Please, Justin, we need you.”
Body language expert Judi James discussed the encounter with the Daily Mail, analyzing if there might be underlying issues.
James stated: “There’s no signs of any authentic or personal beef between Justin and Trevor Noah here, although Justin’s body language rituals as Noah hones in on him would suggest a guy happy to play along for a bit, but to also imply he has boundaries when it comes to any ridicule.
“His initial expression is one of good-humored wariness but with a wince that suggests those boundaries. His brows are raised and angled in a question, but his cheeks are rounded and puffed up to hint at humor. His lips are tightly clamped to show he’s not going to laugh out loud to encourage any jokes.”
The body language expert also observed a subtle shift in Bieber’s expression as Noah offered compliments. James noted that his demeanor became ‘solemn,’ indicating a caution for a potential punchline following the praise.
Trevor Noah highlights Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber at the #Grammys pic.twitter.com/cW6VBAWc9c
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) February 2, 2026
Though Noah’s remarks didn’t include a jab, James pointed out that Bieber’s body language, such as folding his arms, suggested he had reached his limit with the banter.
LADbible Group has reached out to the representatives of both Trevor Noah and Justin Bieber for comment.