A Complete Timeline of the Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez Drama

Being a celebrity comes with undeniable perks—money, power, and influence—but it also means living under constant scrutiny. What might be a private love triangle in an ordinary person’s life can become a full-blown public spectacle for a celebrity. Few know this better than Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber, who have been entangled in fan-fueled drama for years.

At the heart of their ongoing media-fueled rivalry is one common denominator: Justin Bieber. Throughout the 2010s, Selena and Justin’s on-again, off-again relationship captivated fans, with many passionately rooting for "Jelena." Their final split in March 2018 sent shockwaves across social media—especially when Justin was spotted with then-Hailey Baldwin shortly after. Just months later, in September 2018, he married Hailey, leaving fans questioning the relationship timeline and fueling speculation.

Since the Biebers' wedding, the internet has dissected every interaction—or lack thereof—between Selena and Hailey, turning even the smallest social media activity into potential shade. A snarky comment, a seemingly pointed lyric, a cryptic TikTok like, or an Instagram caption has been enough to reignite tensions between respective fanbases, leading to an ongoing digital feud.

Keep scrolling to see how the drama started and key moments (down to the most recent happenings) that have kept this drama the internet can’t seem to let go of alive.

October 2019 

On October 23, 2019, Selena Gomez released "Lose You to Love Me," a song about coping with her breakup with Bieber. That same day, Hailey Bieber posted an Instagram story to the song "I'll Kill You" by Summer Walker. This was the first time social media began raising eyebrows, suggesting that Bieber was reacting to Gomez's song. However, Hailey quickly debunked this and said it was "nonsense." 

May 2022

After Gomez shared a video showcasing her makeup routine—just after Hailey posted a similar one on her own account—fans quickly speculated that Selena’s post was a subtle dig at Hailey. In response to the growing chatter, Gomez addressed the situation in the comments, writing, "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," per a fan-captured screenshot.

October 2022

Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber posed together at the second annual Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala, breaking the internet. The unexpected moment had fans convinced that any lingering tension between them was finally put to rest.

January 2023 

Bieber, along with Kendall Jenner and another friend, went viral after posting a TikTok where they mouthed the words: "I'm not saying she deserved it, but I'm saying God's timing is always right." While the video didn’t mention Gomez, it surfaced around the same time she was facing online trolling, leading fans to speculate it was a subtle dig. The TikTok was quickly deleted, but not before fueling another wave of controversy.

When the video resurfaced about a month later, Gomez shut down any negativity, responding to a fan’s post with, “It’s ok! I don’t let these things get me down! Be nice to everyone! X.” Although surely not intentional, Gomez's response added more fuel to the fire, somewhat confirming she also thought it was about her.

Hailey also addressed the situation in TikTok comments, clarifying, "I never comment on this type of thing, but we were just having a girls' night and did a random TikTok for fun. It’s not directed at anyone."

February 2023 

Possibly the most controversial moment from the Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber drama came in February 2023, revolving around a laminated eyebrows situation. Buckle up. 

A resurfaced TikTok clip reignited tensions when a video of Hailey Bieber seemingly shading Selena Gomez’s bestie Taylor Swift began making rounds online. In the clip, Hailey appears to gag when Swift and her latest album are mentioned. Gomez quickly came to her best friend’s defense, commenting, “So sorry, my best friend is and continues to be one of the best in the game.”

This controversy coincided with another round of speculation on the video-sharing app. After Gomez mentioned that she had accidentally over-laminated her eyebrows, Kylie Jenner posted a photo of herself with the text, “This was an accident???” over her brows, followed by a close-up image of Hailey Bieber’s eyebrows over Facetime. Fans immediately speculated that the posts were subtle jabs at Gomez.

However, both Jenner and Gomez quickly shut down the rumors. Jenner responded to the speculation, writing, “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.”

Gomez backed her up, replying, “Agreed @kyliejenner. It's all unnecessary. I'm a fan of Kylie!"

March 2025

When the dust finally began to settle, the latest stirrup in the Bieber-Gomez drama came from a TikTok that Bieber allegedly liked. The video was poking fun at Gomez's fiancé Benny Blanco's looks and his relationship with her. The creator of the video screenshotted Bieber liking the video, which caused an outpour of backlash from fans. 

According to Page Six, Bieber's representative dismissed the controversy as entirely false, saying, “This entire story has been fabricated by a content creator looking to capitalize off of an old, tired narrative.”