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A lot has happened in the last 24 hours regarding Selena Gomez’s love-hate relationship with social media. After a buzzy day of headlines speculating drama between the pop star and Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber, Gomez announced that she would be taking a break from TikTok and disabled her account, only to reactivate it hours later. We’re explaining exactly what went down.
It all began on Thursday, when an old clip of Bieber seemingly shading Taylor Swift resurfaced on TikTok. “THISS is real Hailey ‘Bieber’ — mean girl// matona// A Bully” read the text on the video. It took place when Bieber was on the show Drop The Mic. The show’s co-host, Method Man, teased a “rap battle full of the meanest lyrics about a celebrity since Taylor Swift’s last album.” When Swift’s name was mentioned, Bieber stuck her finger down her throat, pretending to make herself sick. Coming to Swift’s defense, Gomez commented, “So sorry, my best friend is and continues to be one of the best in the game.”
@duckcopycat0 Esto es Hailey 🐍 Bieber🐍🦆🐀 #haileybieber #taylorswift #obssessed #selenator #selenators #jelena #haileycopycat #exposing #rarebeautyblush #jaileyisfake #taylena #haileyisobsessedwithselena #haileyduck #kyliejenner #haileycopyselena #rarebeauty #swiftie #cardigantrend #haileycopysel #selenagomez #selenator #cancelhaileybieber #exposinghaileybaldwin #taylorsversion #haileyduckwin
Gomez and Bieber have been embroiled in headline-making news for years. Previously, Gomez had an on-and-off relationship with Justin Bieber over the course of eight years before the “Baby” singer married Hailey in 2018. Hailey and Gomez posed for photos together at the 2022 Academy Museum Gala in October, seemingly putting rumors to rest that there was any bad blood between them.
More headlines were made though, when Gomez posted a video this week and said, “I accidentally laminated my brows too much.” Shortly thereafter, Kylie Jenner shared a selfie with her eyebrows done similarly to Gomez. “This was an accident???,” wrote the Kylie Cosmetics founder. Jenner then posted a close-up of her brows on FaceTime with Hailey, also zooming in on her brows. Many interpreted the similarities in posts to be subliminally shading Gomez.
“This is reaching,” Kylie wrote in her TikTok comments section. “No shade towards Selena ever and I didn’t see her eyebrow posts! U guys are making something out of nothing. This is silly.”
Gomez replied, “Agreed,” commenting, “It’s all unnecessary. I’m a fan of Kylie!”
In the midst of all of this back-and-forth, Gomez surpassed Jenner as the most-followed woman on Instagram with 382 million followers.
The online chatter came just days after Gomez stirred headlines for using a TikTok Bella Hadid-inspired filter on her face. The two women both notably dated The Weeknd, with many previously believing there to be a feud between the two of them. The Rare Beauty founder lip-synched along with an audio clip saying, “So my name — my name is Bella Hadid.” Gomez captioned the clip, “I wish I was as pretty as Bella Hadid.” Gomez went on to post an image of the model on her Instagram Story with the hashtag “#girlcrush.” Seems to be no bad blood there!
Eventually, the star announced a hiatus from social media. “I’m very happy. I’m so blessed. I have the best friends, the best fans in the whole world, and I just couldn’t be happier,” Gomez said on a live TikTok. “I’m good. I love the way I am. I don’t care. I’m big, I’m not. I don’t care. I love who I am. And, yeah, I’m going to be taking a second from social media because this is a little silly. And I’m 30, I’m too old for this. But I love you guys so much! I will see you guys sooner than later, I’m just going to take a break from everything.”
Although Gomez’s TikTok account was quickly reactivated, the star has yet to post anything since the drama erupted.
After the 2023 Golden Globe Awards in January, Gomez addressed online bullies on Instagram Live. “I’m a little bit big right now because I enjoyed myself during the holidays,” she said, while filming alongside her 9-year-old little sister Gracie Elliott Teefey.
“Right?” she asked Teffey as they both laughed it off. “But we don’t care,” added Gomez.
Hardly the first time Gomez clapped back at comments about her weight, the star took to TikTok in April 2022 to get candid about her body and her Jack in the Box food order. “So, I be trying to stay skinny,” she began. “But I went to Jack in the Box, and I got four tacos, three egg rolls, onion rings, and a spicy chicken sandwich.”
“But honestly, I don’t care about my weight because people b***h about it anyway,” she told her TikTok followers. Gomez continued in a mocking voice, reading comments she’s gotten from the public or the media surrounding her weight before confidently claiming her space with a loving proclamation. “‘You’re too small;’ ‘You’re too big;’ ‘That doesn’t fit,’” she says. “B***h, I am perfect the way I am.”
Having always been transparent about mental health, and the impact of her lupus diagnosis, Gomez’s weight has fluctuated during her time in the public eye. She’s also commented before on the negative consequences that social media has on mental health, and has taken long breaks from the internet.
Gomez went on to sign off with a tongue-in-cheek remark saying, “Moral of the story? Bye.”
