Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber‘s recent social media drama has highlighted that the solidarity the pair once had is officially over.
For context, the pair’s alleged years-long feud was at an all-time high in the summer of 2018 because of the quick turnaround between Hailey getting engaged to Justin Bieber and the singer’s final break up with Selena, whom he dated for nearly a decade.
Despite the massive scrutiny both parties would receive from Selena’s fans, known as Selenators, online, Hailey and Justin ultimately married in September of that same year. Following the nuptials, the model alleged that she continued to be cyberbullied for her relationship and even begged Selena to do something about the situation. Although the “Who Says” vocalist addressed the matter in various instances and pleaded with her fans, that gesture was unsuccessful.
Years later, in October 2022, Selena and Hailey were photographed together as they attended the Academy Museum Gala. This image was significant because when the snapshot was taken, it suggested a positive shift in Selena and Hailey’s relationship. That all began to change in a matter of months when Hailey posted a particular TikTok video on her account.
Hailey posts and quickly removes viral video on January 9
On January 9, Hailey uploaded what many assumed was a shady clip directed toward Selena on her TikTok account.
The reason behind fans’ speculation was because the video came out around the time Selena was being fat-shamed by the public after paparazzi photos during her Mexico vacation were released. The clip, also featuring the Rhode Skin CEO’s friends Kendall Jenner and Justine Skye, showcased the trio mouthing the words, “I’m not saying she deserved it, but God’s timing is always right.”
Following the backlash, Hailey deleted the video.
Hailey responds to the Selena allegations on January 11
Days after media outlets and other TikTok users dissected Hailey’s video, the 26-year-old explained that she had no ill intentions when she shared the upload and wasn’t talking about anyone in particular.
While commenting on TikTok user @Riristea’s post on January 11, she said, “I never comment on this type of thing but we were just having a girls’ night and did a random TikTok sound for fun. It’s not directed at anyone.”
Selena joins the chatter on February 9
After being silent about the situation for almost a month, Selena commented on another TikTok user’s video that bashed Hailey for bullying the Only Murders in the Building star following the influencer’s similar experience. Selena wrote as she asked her fans to spread kindness, “It’s ok! I don’t let these things get me down! Be nice to everyone! x.”
Hailey and Kylie Jenner allegedly poke fun at Selena on February 22
Hailey and Selena’s alleged feud went into overdrive a couple of weeks later on February 22, when the model’s friend Kylie Jenner inserted herself into the drama by sharing several photos in her Instagram story that appeared to be referencing the “Slow Down” singer’s eyebrows.
For context, Selena had previously uploaded a now-deleted video on her TikTok account that showcased her beauty mishap when she accidentally over-laminated her eyebrows. Moments later, Kylie took to her Instagram story and posted a snapshot purposely focused on her eyebrows as the entrepreneur wrote the caption, “this was an accident???”
In addition to the image, Kylie would upload a screenshot of her and Hailey’s eyebrows in another post. Following that upload, Selena’s fans would immediately call out Hailey and Kylie for their actions. The Selenators even went as far as suggest that the pair were participating in mean-girl behavior.
Kylie and Selena comments on the eyebrow controversy on February 23
A day after the backlash, on February 23, Kylie addressed the situation by commenting on TikTok user @devotedly.yours’ video, which pointed out the similarities between the posts and claimed that the Kylie Cosmetics CEO was “shading” Selena. Kylie argued in the comment section that the social media user was “reaching” when she mentioned the reality star was throwing shots at Selena.
While bringing up that she never saw Selena’s “eyebrow posts,” the mother of two wrote, “This is reaching. No shade towards Selena ever and I didn’t see her eyebrow posts! [You] guys are making something out of nothing. This is silly.” A short time later, Selena backed up Kylie’s claims on the speculation surrounding the posts being “silly” by saying, “Agreed @kyliejenner It’s all unnecessary. I’m a fan of Kylie.”
Despite extending an olive branch to Kylie, Selena apparently wasn’t feeling too gracious toward Hailey because immediately after commenting on the reality’s star remarks, The Wizards of Waverly Place actress clapped back at her on a resurfaced video.
In the clip, Hailey, who was hosting competition series Drop the Mic with rapper and actor Method Man, was seen making a throwing-up gesture when Method Man brought up Selena’s best friend Taylor Swift’s songwriting abilities. As Selena caught wind of the video, she defended Taylor and said, “So sorry, my best friend is and continues to be the best in the game.”
In addition to that post, Selena commented on other users’ TikTok videos that showed their support of the “Love You Like a Love Song” singer and called out Hailey for bullying. In one of the clips, according to Cosmopolitan, social media user @essymakingsounds highlighted Selena’s drama during and after her relationship with Justin Bieber. Selena responded by writing “that made me cry thank you.”
As Selena’s remarks began circulating online, she announced that she was taking a break from social media because of the constant hate she received online. The 30-year-old said on TikTok live,
“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. 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 gonna be taking a second from social media, because this is a little silly. And I’m 30, I’m too old for this, so…but I love you guys so much! And I will see you guys sooner than later, I just… I’m just gonna just take a break from everything.”
Justin Bieber’s mom Pattie shares her take on the matter on February 25
As Selena and Hailey’s feud continued to make headlines and trend for days, Justin’s mother, Pattie Mallette, took to Twitter to share her stance on the situation. While expressing hate’s effects on the world, she wrote, “Hate is ugly. Don’t be ugly.”
Although many would assume that Pattie was responding in defense of her daughter-in-law Hailey, it is unclear if she is even picking a side because shortly before writing the post, the “Nowhere but Up” author also liked and unliked a tweet that talked about Selena’s social media break.
Hailey is accused of shading Selena again on February 27
As if this situation couldn’t get any messier, on February 27, Hailey was accused of throwing shots at Selena yet again after reposting a video by Style and Beach on her Instagram story featuring a solo version of Rema’s hit song “Calm Down.”
The significance behind this song is that Selena is on the remixed version, which was released last year. In the particular Style and Beach clip that Hailey reposted, she was seen showing off her skincare brand Rhode Skin. Although it is unclear if Hailey posted the video to be shady, she has yet to comment on the allegations.
Jordyn Woods allegedly shows support to Selena on February 27
In a twist of events, that same day, Jordyn Woods, Kylie’s ex-best friend, uploaded a video on her social media account and expressed how much she loved Selena’s Rare Beauty lipliner.
Jordyn and Kylie’s friendship demise stemmed from the influencer kissing the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star’s sister Khloe Kardashian’s on-and-off-again boyfriend, Tristian Thompson, and the public torment she faced from the family. In the video shared on February 27, Jordyn is seen applying the lip liner as she wrote the caption, “Love this lip liner.” In another clip, Jordyn even shared details of the lipliner’s name, “kind words.”
Since Selena’s social media hiatus, neither party has addressed the feud or the overall spiral, and it is yet to be determined at this time if they will.
Published: Mar 1, 2023 05:14 pm