Hailey Bieber has once again opened up about the persistent feud rumors with Selena Gomez, expressing profound frustration over being constantly “pitted against other people” and stressing that she “didn’t ask for that.” Her latest comments arrive as her Rhode Beauty brand launched at Sephora, where Gomez’s Rare Beauty is also sold, reigniting discussions around their intertwined past with Justin Bieber and the fervent fan narratives that continue to dominate headlines.
The alleged feud between Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez has been a persistent undercurrent in celebrity news for over a decade. Despite public attempts to dismiss the drama, fan theories and media speculation continue to fuel the narrative. In a recent interview for WSJ. Magazine’s Innovators Issue, published on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Hailey Bieber once again addressed the rumors head-on, voicing her frustration with the ongoing comparisons and assumptions.
The Tangled Threads of a Shared Past
The origin of the rumored rivalry dates back to both women’s romantic histories with pop superstar Justin Bieber. Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, affectionately known to fans as “Jelena,” had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2011 to 2017. During these years, a young Hailey Bieber (then Baldwin) even publicly expressed her support for the couple on Twitter in since-deleted posts, reportedly stating, “I’m for sure 100% team #Jelena.”
The timeline became more complex when rumors of Justin dating Hailey began swirling in December 2014, during one of his breaks with Gomez. Despite initial denials, Justin later shared a throwback photo in January 2016 of him and Hailey kissing on New Year’s Eve 2015. This public display prompted Selena Gomez to tell Rolling Stone in an interview published the very next day, “Honestly, what I would love to be printed is that I am so beyond done with talking about that, and him.”
Eventually, Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber tied the knot in 2018. They welcomed their first son, Jack Blues, in August 2024. Meanwhile, Selena Gomez recently married producer Benny Blanco on September 27, 2025, signifying new chapters for both women in their personal lives.
“I Didn’t Ask for That”: Hailey’s Stand Against Public Pitting
In her recent interview with WSJ. Magazine, Hailey Bieber expressed deep annoyance at the incessant comparisons. “It’s always annoying being pitted against other people. I didn’t ask for that,” she stated. This sentiment highlights her ongoing battle to control her own narrative amidst a public perception often shaped by external forces.
The timing of the interview, mere hours before her beauty brand, Rhode Beauty, officially launched at Sephora—a retailer that also carries Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty line—only intensified the existing, often manufactured, rivalry. Hailey further clarified her stance, asserting, “When people want to see you a certain way and they’ve made up a story about you in their minds, it’s not up to you to change that.” This underscores her commitment to focusing on her own journey, rather than attempting to alter deeply entrenched public opinions.
The Unyielding Power of Fandom and Speculation
Despite repeated attempts by both Hailey and Selena to put an end to the feud rumors, the narratives persist. A notable effort to quash speculation occurred in October 2022, when the two women posed for a photo together at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ 2nd annual gala, a moment that went viral as fans hoped it would signify the end of the drama. However, online fan wars continued unabated.
Hailey Bieber has consistently condemned the toxicity surrounding the fan theories. In June 2023, she told Bloomberg’s The Circuit, “I hate it. I’ve hated it since the beginning and it goes back to being misunderstood. Time and time again I say there is no issue and it’s so disappointing that people still behave this way over a man.” She has previously labeled these fan-driven narratives not only “vile” and “disgusting,” but also “really dangerous,” highlighting the serious implications of unchecked online harassment.
The Impact of Marriage and Motherhood
The intensity of the scrutiny has even extended to Hailey’s marriage and recent motherhood. In a May 2025 profile with Vogue, she was asked if she thought the internet chatter would eventually die down. Her response conveyed a sense of resignation: “Well, I thought seven years in it would’ve already, and it hasn’t. You would think after having a child, people would maybe move on, chill out a little bit, but no. So I guess these bitches are going to be mad.” This candid comment reflects the relentless nature of public obsession and the challenge celebrities face in trying to find peace.
Moving Forward Beyond the Feud
As Hailey Bieber continues to build her business empire and navigate her family life, her desire for the “feud” narrative to end is clear. Her latest statements reinforce a consistent message: the drama is largely a creation of outsiders, and she is unwilling to engage in it further. For fans, it’s a call to reflect on the nature of celebrity scrutiny and to allow public figures to define their own stories, rather than perpetuating narratives rooted in past relationships and manufactured rivalries.
