The public narrative surrounding Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber, often fueled by their shared history with Justin Bieber, has been a source of intense media and fan scrutiny for over a decade. Despite persistent speculation of rivalry, both women have consistently worked to dispel drama, advocating for kindness and mutual respect in the face of widespread online negativity.
The lives of Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin) have been inextricably linked in the public eye, largely due to their respective, lengthy, and complex relationships with pop superstar Justin Bieber. From Hailey’s early days as a fan of the “Jelena” romance to recent joint calls for an end to online bullying, their story is a testament to the persistent pressures faced by public figures.
Despite being frequently pitted against each other by fans and media, both Gomez and Baldwin Bieber have made concerted efforts to shut down speculation of drama, publicly stating their mutual respect and desire for peace.
The Early Years: Hailey’s Candid Support for Jelena
The connection between the two women and Justin Bieber dates back to 2009. Gomez and Bieber’s romance first captured headlines in December 2010. During this period, Hailey Baldwin, then a teenager, was a vocal supporter of the couple on social media.
In May 2011, after Gomez and Bieber confirmed their relationship, Hailey tweeted her enthusiastic support, stating, “I’m for sure 100% team #jelena,” according to a now-deleted post cited by Just Jared. A few months later, in September 2011, she further defended their romance, writing, “I don’t care what anyone says but Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez together is the definition of a teenage dream! #word.”
Hailey continued to voice her admiration in early 2012, reportedly tweeting, “She is beyond flawless and he’s ya know he’s Bieber. They are the perfect relationship… forever alone.” She even expressed disappointment when the couple didn’t attend the Vanity Fair Oscars party together, writing, “I gotta say i was really looking forward to seeing what color coordination jelena was gonna do for this years vf party . . . # sigh # oh well.”
The “Lose You to Love Me” Era and Hailey’s Response (2019)
Years later, after Gomez and Bieber’s tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship concluded and Justin married Hailey in September 2018, public speculation intensified. In October 2019, Gomez released “Lose You to Love Me,” an emotional ballad widely interpreted as a reflection on her journey following her breakup with Justin. The lyrics, “In two months you replaced us like it was easy,” particularly fueled fan theories.
Shortly after the song’s release, Hailey posted a screenshot of Summer Walker’s “I’ll Kill You” to her Instagram story, prompting immediate backlash from fans who believed it was a direct response to Gomez. Hailey quickly shut down these rumors, commenting on a fan post, “Please stop with this nonsense . . . there is no ‘response’ . this is complete bs.”
A day later, Gomez herself addressed the escalating fan hostility, without directly naming Hailey. On an Instagram Live, she stated, “I am grateful for the response that the song is getting. I’m so grateful. However, I do not stand for women tearing women down.” She added, “So please be kind to everyone. Don’t go off and say things that you just feel in the moment,” according to Cosmopolitan.
Defending Mutual Friends: The Madison Beer Incident (2020)
The theme of kindness and shutting down fan-induced drama resurfaced in January 2020. After Madison Beer, a mutual friend, was seen dining with Hailey Baldwin at Craig’s in West Hollywood, she faced significant backlash from Gomez’s fans, who accused her of betrayal.
Madison Beer clarified that she had been friends with Hailey for a decade and loved Selena, stressing that “nothing happened” and the bullying was “mean and unnecessary.” Gomez herself stepped in, commenting on Beer’s post, “This is disgusting reading all of this. This wasn’t intentional whatsoever. I’m so disappointed that people would speak to someone like this. I have known Madison since she was a baby… There is no issue.”
Hailey Addresses the Timeline and Feud Rumors Head-On (2022)
In September 2022, Hailey Bieber openly addressed the long-standing accusations of a feud and the “stolen” narrative during an interview on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. She emphatically stated, “I can say, period, point blank, I was never with him when he was in a relationship with anybody — that’s the end of it.”
She further confirmed that she had spoken to Gomez since her marriage, stating, “it’s all respect, it’s all love.” Hailey expressed a desire for peace and clarity, acknowledging that “you’re never going to be able to correct every narrative” but that both women understand what happened.
The interview prompted a seemingly indirect response from Gomez, who posted on TikTok the next day about spreading positivity and the importance of words, urging supporters of her brand, Rare Beauty, to “be all about kind words.”
A Moment of Unity: The Iconic Photo (October 2022)
Weeks after Hailey’s podcast appearance, the women seemingly put feud rumors to rest in October 2022 when they publicly posed for pictures together at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ 2nd Annual Gala in Los Angeles. The images showed them on good terms, smiling, with Gomez even placing her hand on Hailey’s leg in one photo. This rare public display of camaraderie was a significant moment for fans hoping for an end to the perceived rivalry.
Recent Social Media Speculations and Calls for Calm (2023)
Despite the unifying photo, social media drama resurfaced in early 2023. This latest wave of speculation included several incidents:
- The “God’s Timing” TikTok: In February 2023, Gomez reacted to a fan-made TikTok video implying that a since-deleted video by Hailey and friends (including Kendall Jenner) was a subtle jab at her. Hailey’s original video featured lip-syncing to “I’m not saying she deserved it, but I’m saying God’s timing is always right.” Hailey had previously denied any ill intent, stating, “I never comment on this type of thing but we were just having a girls night and did a random Tik Tok sound for fun. It’s not directed at anyone.” Gomez responded to the fan video with grace, writing, “It’s ok! I don’t let these things get me down! Be nice to everyone! x.”
- The Eyebrow Incident: In February 2023, fans speculated that Kylie Jenner and Hailey were mocking Gomez’s eyebrows after Gomez posted about laminating them “too much.” Kylie quickly dismissed the claims as “reaching,” and Gomez agreed, commenting, “it’s all unnecessary. I’m a fan of Kylie!”
- Defending Taylor Swift: A resurfaced 2017 video showing Hailey making a gagging gesture at the mention of Taylor Swift’s name prompted Gomez to defend her best friend. Gomez commented, “So sorry, my best friend is and continues to be one of the best in the game.”
Following this renewed surge of online drama, Gomez announced she was taking a break from social media, expressing, “I’m 30. I’m too old for this.”
Calls for Kindness Amidst Hateful Negativity (March-June 2023)
The heightened online activity led to significant negativity, including death threats directed at Hailey Bieber. In March 2023, Gomez took to Instagram stories to address the severe cyberbullying. She stated, “Hailey Bieber reached out to me and let me know that she has been receiving death threats and such hateful negativity. This isn’t what I stand for. No one should have to experience hate or bullying. I’ve always advocated for kindness and really want this all to stop.”
Hailey echoed this sentiment in June 2023, sharing a post on her Instagram story pleading with followers to stop leaving mean or rude comments on anyone’s posts “on my behalf.” She emphasized, “doing that is not supporting me. If you are participating in that you are a part of a culture that I want no part of. Please be nice or don’t say anything.”
Hailey on the “Pitting” Narrative (June 2023)
In a subsequent appearance on Bloomberg’s “The Circuit” in June 2023, Hailey further articulated her frustration with the ongoing narrative. She stated, “I don’t think that this is about me, Hailey Bieber, and Selena Gomez. This is not about this pitting between two women — it’s about the vile, disgusting hatred that can come from completely made-up and twisted, and perpetuated narratives that can be really dangerous.”
Hailey concluded by reiterating, “time and time again I say there is no issue and it’s so disappointing that people still behave this way over a man.”
Conclusion: An Ongoing Quest for Peace
The public relationship between Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber is a complex, evolving narrative, continuously shaped by fan fervor and media interpretation. Despite the persistent “pitting” and dramatic headlines, both women have consistently expressed a desire for peace, respect, and an end to online hostility. Their journey highlights the challenges of navigating personal lives under intense public scrutiny and the ongoing effort to define their own stories amidst speculation.
