Sophie Turner, known for her portrayal of Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, has made some memorable statements over the years, but none quite as amusing as when she compared Justin Bieber to the infamous Joffrey Baratheon. This lighthearted comparison came during an era when Turner, like many teenage girls, was obsessed with the pop star. Here’s the story behind her Bieber crush, the comparison to the tyrannical Game of Thrones character, and an embarrassing encounter that still makes her cringe to this day.
The Teenage Obsession: Sophie Turner and Justin Bieber
Sophie Turner skyrocketed to fame as a young teen after landing the role of Sansa Stark at just 13 years old. While she was navigating the world of Westeros, like many girls her age, she was also harboring a celebrity crush—none other than Justin Bieber.
In a 2014 interview, Turner revealed just how deep her infatuation ran, even admitting she would read celebrity gossip magazines religiously. Her teenage fixation on Bieber wasn’t out of the ordinary, but it was her amusing comparison of the singer to Joffrey Baratheon that left many fans laughing. According to Turner (via Vanity Fair), Bieber’s behavior as a teen made him the perfect modern-day equivalent of the young tyrant Joffrey, a character from Game of Thrones played by Jack Gleeson.
“Maybe when I first joined the show. I was only 13, I was one of those girls that read OK! 12 times a week, and I was all ‘Ooh, Justin Bieber’—who is the Joffrey Baratheon of our time.”
The Joffrey Baratheon and Justin Bieber Comparison
It might seem like a stretch to compare a pop sensation like Bieber to one of television’s most despised characters, but Turner’s comparison wasn’t without reason. Bieber, during his teenage years, had a reputation for being somewhat of a “bad boy.” From run-ins with the law to making headlines for controversial antics, his behavior had an air of arrogance that many felt mirrored Joffrey’s ruthless attitude in Game of Thrones.
Moreover, both Joffrey and Bieber had a striking resemblance at the time, with similar facial features and boyish good looks. The comparison was more than just about their personalities—it was also about their uncanny physical similarities.
Sophie Turner’s Embarrassing Encounter with Justin Bieber
While Sophie Turner’s Bieber crush and playful comparison are enough to make fans smile, what truly takes the cake is her cringeworthy first encounter with the singer. During a 2018 appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Turner recounted the time she met Bieber in Miami—a moment that would be forever etched into her memory, though for all the wrong reasons.
As Turner explained, she was at a house where Bieber happened to be, and when she finally worked up the courage to meet him, the encounter couldn’t have been more awkward.
“I have met him once when I was in Miami, and we were in this house. I walked upstairs and I was told that Justin was there. So I go up there, and he’s sat there, shirtless in a dark room, getting a head massage, and I was like, ‘Oh my god! This is amazing.’ So I was like, ‘Hi, nice to meet you, Sophie,’ tried to play it cool, ran into the closet, and cried for like five minutes.”
It’s hard not to laugh imagining the star of one of TV’s biggest shows fangirling so hard that she had to hide in a closet after meeting her celebrity crush. To make matters worse, when her then-boyfriend (and later ex-husband) Joe Jonas introduced her to Bieber, Turner made a bizarre, awkward gesture with her hands and tongue, something she now recalls with secondhand embarrassment.
Why Turner’s Comparison Still Resonates
Looking back, Turner’s comparison of Bieber to Joffrey Baratheon feels like a playful yet fitting reflection of the singer’s tumultuous teenage years. Bieber’s transformation from a troublemaking teen to a more grounded adult mirrors the evolution many child stars go through as they grow up in the public eye. In contrast, Joffrey never got a redemption arc—something Game of Thrones fans can be thankful for!
Turner’s candidness about her own teenage obsessions and awkward moments adds a humanizing layer to her public persona, reminding fans that even the stars they look up to have cringeworthy moments they’d rather forget.
Sophie Turner’s teenage obsession with Justin Bieber, her hilarious comparison to Joffrey Baratheon, and her awkward encounter with the singer all come together to create a story that’s both relatable and funny. It’s a reminder that no matter how famous you are, meeting your idol can still be a nerve-wracking, embarrassing experience.
This slice of celebrity life continues to endear Sophie Turner to fans, not just for her impressive acting chops but for her honesty and sense of humor in sharing these relatable, human moments.