Justin Bieber's high profile manager says he once feared for the Canadian pop sensation's life.

Scooter Braun told The New York Times in an interview last week that Bieber wanted to go on tour in the midst of a series of incidents in the last couple of years that tarnished his public image.

"I honestly at that time felt, if he toured, he could die," Braun told the Times.

Bieber had a number of run-ins with the law in both Canada and the U.S. that included pleading guilty to misdemeanour careless driving, to egg-tossing vandalism and clashing with a paparazzo.

"It was far worse than people realize. And when he is ready, he will tell what he was going through," Braun told the newspaper.

Bieber has done a number of interviews recently where he acknowledged his troubles including telling Billboard he was "close to letting fame destroy" him.

The Times credited Braun for 21-year-old Bieber's recent comeback this year, which the manager said started with a roast on Comedy Central.

Bieber also surprised his fans earlier this month with a benefit concert in Toronto to raise funds for an outreach centre in his hometown of Stratford, Ont., and his new album "Purpose" has been storming the charts.