It’s a brand new day… which means there’s brand new internet drama taking over my FYP. And if you’re anything like me, then you’ve been absolutely bombarded with the recent Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber drama that literally came out of nowhere. One day, I’m watching videos of the “she lives in me” trend and Rafe Cameron thirst traps, and the next? I’m watching TikTok after TikTok pitting two women against each other over a Pisces man. How do I reset my algorithm? This is lowering my vibration, TBH.
However, with videos popping up on my FYP left and right, falling into the drama proved to be inevitable. (Even my partner has been getting the daily breakdown of the Gomez-Bieber drama.) And the tea seems to be evolving: Since both Gomez and Bieber started keeping a low profile on social media, internet users have resurfaced old videos of Bieber to keep the pot boiling. All of this has resulted in TikTok’s biggest conspiracy revolving around the drama: Bieber is (allegedly) obsessed with Gomez, and has been (allegedly) copying her for years. Her Campus reached out to both Gomez’s and Bieber’s teams for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.
But first, a backstory. Essentially, Gomez and Justin Bieber were famous for their on-again-off-again relationship from 2011 to 2018. Only a few months after his split from Gomez, Justin Bieber married Hailey Baldwin, who changed her name to Hailey Bieber. From there, the drama has been nonstop.
I’m the first to say that this all seems like quite the reach, but TikTok doesn’t share that same opinion. On the app, you’ll find thousands of edits pinpointing specific Gomez moments and comparing them to more recent Hailey clips. Users are claiming that Hailey has been copying Gomez’s mannerisms and stories for years in interviews.
Similarly, TikTok has been pointing out the similarities between Gomez’s and Hailey’s behind-the-ear and finger tattoos. NGL, this one is a little fishy, but I think it’s still a bit of a reach.
Recently, videos, photos, and tweets emerged of Hailey fangirling over Gomez’s and Justin Bieber’s relationship back in 2011. According to old tweets, Hailey was a pretty big #Jelena stan back in the day, which makes all of this drama a little whack, IMHO. Additionally, there are tons of videos of Hailey jamming out to Gomez’s music, giving internet users the ammo they need to label Bieber a “super fan.”
At the time of publication, neither Hailey nor Gomez have commented on the copycat claims — and for good reason! These are grown women, perhaps it’s time to leave the drama to rest. What will be, will be.