Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin) and Selena Gomez have long been compared because of their past and present relationships with Justin Bieber. Yet, despite years of fan speculation and online tension, both women have consistently shown nothing but mutual respect toward one another on social media.
In the early 2010s, years before she began dating her future husband, Hailey often tweeted her admiration for Justin and Gomez, who were dating at the time.
“They are the perfect relationship,” the model, who later married the “Peaches” singer in September 2018, tweeted in 2012, according to Just Jared, joking that she’d be “forever alone.” The then-teenager also praised the Only Murders in the Building actress as “beyond flawless” in the same post.
Justin and Gomez’s relationship went through multiple breakups and reconciliations over the next few years. By the end of 2015, Justin was spotted kissing Hailey, though the two had yet to make things official.
In November 2017, media outlets confirmed that Justin and Gomez had rekindled their romance. However, a source told the outlet that Justin and Hailey were still in touch and that their connection remained “platonic.”
By May 2018, “Jelena” had officially come to an end. One month later, it was reported that Justin had reunited with Hailey, and things escalated quickly. The “Baby” singer proposed to the Rhode founder that July, and the couple tied the knot just two months later.
Hailey Defends Jelena
“I don’t care what anyone says, but Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez together is the definition of a teenage dream! #word,” Justin’s future wife tweeted in 2011.
‘Beyond Flawless’
Hailey once again showed love to Gomez in a 2012 tweet, writing, “She is beyond flawless and he’s, ya know, he’s Bieber. They are the perfect relationship… forever alone.”
A True Jelena Stan
“I gotta say I was really looking forward to seeing what color coordination Jelena was gonna do for this year’s VF party.. #sigh #ohwell,” Hailey tweeted in 2012.
Shooting Down the Rumors
In October 2019, shortly after Gomez released “Lose You to Love Me,” which many believed was about her past relationship with Justin, Hailey shared an Instagram Story playing “I’ll Kill You” by Summer Walker and Jhené Aiko. Fans speculated the timing was intentional, but Hailey quickly denied it.
“Please stop with this nonsense… There is no ‘response,’” she commented on an Instagram post addressing the rumors.
Gomez Calls Out Her Fans
Gomez wasn’t pleased with fans attacking Hailey over the speculation. “I am grateful for the response that the song is getting. I’m so grateful,” Gomez said on Instagram Live at the time, per Cosmopolitan. “However, I do not stand for women tearing women down, and I will never, ever be by that.”
A ‘Like’ Speaks a Thousand Words
In 2019, Hailey “liked” one of Gomez’s Instagram posts promoting her Rare Beauty line. Later that year, a source said that “Hailey thinks Selena is talented. By ‘liking’ photos of Selena … Hailey wants to show that there are no hard feelings.”
The insider added, “It’s her way of trying to make peace and show her support for Selena in a low-key yet public way.”
‘This Is Disgusting’
In 2020, when mutual friend Madison Beer was criticized for dining with Hailey, Gomez came to her defense after some fans accused Beer of betraying her.
“This is disgusting, reading all of this. This wasn’t intentional whatsoever,” Gomez wrote on Instagram. “I’m so disappointed that people would speak to someone like this. I have known Madison since she was a baby and watched her continue to become the woman she is. There is no issue.”
More ‘Likes’
Hailey continued to quietly show her support for Gomez by “liking” two of her magazine covers in 2021: Gomez’s Vogue March profile and her Elle August feature.
Hailey Seemingly Hits Back at Comparisons to Gomez
In April 2022, after several of her TikToks were flooded with comparisons to Gomez, Hailey directly addressed the negativity.
“Leave me alone at this point,” she said in a TikTok video. “I’m minding my business. I don’t do anything, I don’t say anything. Leave me alone, please. Enough time has gone by that it’s valid to leave me alone. I beg of you. Truly. That’s my only request. Be miserable somewhere else, please.”
Fans Accuse Gomez of Throwing Shade at Hailey
In May 2022, Gomez shared a TikTok skincare routine that some fans believed was mocking a similar video Hailey had posted earlier.
“Wait … is she tryna make fun of you know who,” one commenter wrote. The “Bad Liar” singer quickly shut down the rumor, replying, “This is why I believe in taking care of your mental health. Guys, no idea what I did, but I really am sorry. Zero bad intention. Deleting soon.” Gomez later disabled comments on the video.
The Timeline
Hailey later clarified the timeline of her and Justin’s relationship during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, explaining that she never “stole” Justin from Gomez.
“The only people who really know the truth of the situation and what the timeline really was and how it happened and how it went down are, like, me and him,” she said, noting that she was there “living it every day.”
Hailey also revealed that she’s spoken with Gomez since her 2018 wedding to Justin.
“It’s all respect. It’s all love,” Hailey said. “That’s also why I feel like if everybody on our side knows what happened and we’re good and we could walk away from it with clarity and respect, then that’s fine. … Which had brought me a lot of peace, and I’m like, ‘We know what happened. It is what it is.’ You’re never going to be able to correct every narrative.”