Actor Stephen Baldwin has asked fans to “pray” for Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber, sparking concerns for the pop star’s health.

On 26 February, the 57-year-old actor shared a cryptic Instagram Story post asking for prayers for his daughter and son-in-law. Baldwin reposted an Instagram Reel from Victor Marx, the founder of All Things Possible Ministries. Who wrote over a clip of the “Peaches” singer playing the guitar: “Christians, please when you think of Justin and Hailey. Take a moment to offer a little prayer for them to have wisdom, protection and to draw close to the Lord.”

While the Usual Suspects actor didn’t clarify why the couple who have been married since 2018 needed prayers from fans. The post instantly garnered much concern over Bieber’s current health status.

The “Love Yourself” singer has been open with fans in recent years about his ongoing health journey. In June 2022, Bieber announced that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome – a rare neurological disorder characterised by paralysis of the facial nerve.

He revealed the diagnosis after he was forced to postpone his Justice World Tour concert dates due to an undisclosed illness at the time. Bieber posted a video on Instagram to show how he had begun experiencing “full paralysis” on the right side of his face.

“Hey everyone, Justin here. I wanted to update you guys on what’s been going on,” he said in the video, posted on 10 June 2022. “Obviously, as you can probably see from my face, I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and it is from this virus that attacks the nerve in my ear and my facial nerves and has caused my face to have paralysis.”

“As you can see this eye is not blinking,” Bieber said, while demonstrating the lack of movement in his right eye. “I can’t smile on this side of my face, this nostril will not move, so there’s full paralysis on this side of my face.”

“This is pretty serious as you can see. I wish this wasn’t the case, but obviously, my body’s telling me that I gotta slow down,” Bieber added. “I hope you guys understand and I’ll be using this time to just rest and relax. And get back to 100 per cent so that I can do what I was born to do.”

He assured fans: “I’m gonna get better and I’m doing all these facial exercises to get my face back to normal. It will go back to normal, it’s just time and we don’t know much time it’s gonna be.”

There are two main symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The first is a painful rash, often with blisters, in and around one ear. The other main symptom is facial paralysis on the same side of the affected ear. Both symptoms often occur at the same time, but one can flare up without the other. Other possible signs of the condition include ear pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, dry mouth, and a change in taste.

“I’m reminded he knows all of me. He knows the darkest parts of me that I want no one to know about. He constantly welcomes me into his loving arms. This perspective has give me peace during this horrific storm that I’m facing [sic].”

He added: “I know this storm will pass but in the meantime JESUS IS WITH ME.”

His wife Hailey maintained her support for Bieber throughout his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis. In an interview with Good Morning America in June 2022, the Rhode Beauty founder provided fans a positive health update.

The model also thanked “fans, friends, family” for their “support” throughout his health struggle, adding: “Every single person has sent well wishes, advice, recommendations. It’s actually been really amazing.”

Around the same time as Bieber’s diagnosis, his wife had also experienced her own health scare. Doctors later discovered that she had experienced a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). Often called a mini-stroke, due to a blood clot in her brain.

Speaking about their dual health scares on Good Morning America, Hailey admitted. That the experience allowed them to be “upfront” with each other and brought them “a lot closer” together.

Nearly nine months after his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis, Bieber gave fans an update about his ongoing recovery. He posted a video to Instagram of himself smiling from both sides of his face, reassuring fans. That he was slowly regaining movement.

Bieber and his wife have yet to publicly comment on Baldwin’s request for prayers. However, the pair stepped out on 28 February to attend a late-night church service. At the Churchome Church at Saban Theatre in Los Angeles.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Justin and Hailey Bieber and Stephen Baldwin for comment.