In the era of social media, going “Instagram official”, the first time a couple posts a photo together on the grid, is an important milestone. Selena Gomez, however, has given us a new spin on the term with a series of comments on the platform referring to and defending rumored beau Benny Blanco.
While the singer and producer have not officially confirmed their relationship status, via grid post, public statement, or other means, Gomez did pop onto various posts on Instagram this week, including commenting “facts.” on a Thursday post from the Popfactions account about her relationship status.
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She didn’t stop there, continuing in a comment spree that led some to speculate that her Instagram account had been hacked.
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“He is my absolute everything in my heart,” she wrote in one. “He has treated me better than any human being on this planet,” she said in another. Another comment reply purportedly written by Gomez seems to side-eye her exes which include Justin Bieber, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Zedd and Nick Jonas. “He’s still better than anyone I’ve ever been with. Facts.”
Gomez posted a black-and-white shot to her Instagram Stories of herself cuddled up to the chest of a man that closely resembles Blanco’s pectoral zone. In the next slide of her story, she simply wrote, “Just a reminder of how much I appreciate and love each and everyone of you.”
In another Story photo, Gomez shared a photo of her left hand featuring a ring emblazoned with a jewel-encrusted letter B. You know what starts with B? More than one of Benny Blanco’s names.
Blanco and Gomez have also worked together on several tracks since 2015, including her recent release “Single Soon,” which she has insisted publicly is not about her former relationship with The Weeknd. In the past, she has been anything but coy about her relationship status: In June, she shared a video of herself watching a recreational soccer game and shouting in the players’ direction, “I’m single! I’m just a little high-maintenance! But I’ll love you soooooo much!”
Representatives for Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
As one of the most followed people on Instagram (and, TBH, the world), there’s a lot of interest in who Selena Gomez is dating and who her boyfriend is. From Justin Bieber to The Weeknd to Chainsmokers member Drew Taggart, Selena is no stranger to public relationships, but that doesn’t make them any easier.
“If I can be honest, it is so cliché,” Selena told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in 2020. “It’s just everyone dates everyone. It always seems to be within this little bubble — and it’s because it’s safe.” She continued, “You’re wanting someone to understand what you’re going through, you’re almost wanting a counterpart of creativity as well, and it’s interesting and fun. But the problem with that is you end up, whether you admit it or not, you’re having a relationship for people and not even for yourself.” She added, “There’s almost this point where it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re making it known that we’re together.’ Or whatever it is. You just need to decide within our world if it’s for you or is it for show.”
In an interview with Vogue Australia in 2021, Selena called her past relationships “cursed.” “I think most of my experiences in relationships have been cursed,” she said at the time. “I’ve been way too young to be exposed to certain things when I was in relationships. I guess I needed to find what was that word for me, because I felt so less than in past relationships, and never really felt equal.”
So who are those “cursed” past relationships? Ahead we break down Selena’s dating history, from Justin Bieber and The Weeknd to The Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart. Meet all of Selena Gomez’s ex-boyfriends and see who she’s dating now.
Who is Selena Gomez dating now? Meet Selena’s ex-boyfriends and see if she’s dating anyone now.
Benny Blanco (2023)
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
On December 7, 2023, Selena Gomez confirmed her relationship with producer Benny Blanco. Under one post from PopFaction’s post that read, “Selena Gomez Seemingly Confirms That She Is in a Relationship,” Gomez simply commented “Facts.” She wrote in the comment: “He is my absolute everything in my heart,” then replied to one fan: “then why has he been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The end.” She then shared a selfie of the two of them to her own Instagram Story.
While their relationship is seemingly new, they’ve known each other for years, previously working on the 2019 hit English-Spanish single “I Can’t Get Enough.” Blanco is the recipient of the 2013 Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also won the BMI Songwriter of the Year Award five non-consecutive times, and won the 2017 iHeartRadio Producer of the Year Award.
Zayn Malik (2023)
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images.
Selena and Zayn Malik were linked in March 2023 after TikTok user @klarissa.mpeg shared a text change from a friend of hers who claimed Zayn and Selena’s hostess at a restaurant. The user explained that both she and her friend both work at celebrity-favorite restaurants. “Tell me how Selena Gomez and Zayn just walked into [restaurant] hand in hand making out and I seated them,” the friend wrote. The date also came weeks after Selena followed Zayn on Instagram. (At the time of the dinner, Selena was also one of 18 accounts Zayn followed.)
But on June 8, 2023, she finally responded to the rumors with a hilarious TikTok posted on June 8, 2023. In the video, she’s rugged up while watching a soccer training session. “I’m single!” she yells to the players. “I’m just a little high maintenance, but I’ll love you so much.” She captioned the video: “The struggle man lol,” which featured one of her friends laughing in the background.
Countless followers compared her behavior to that of her Wizards of Waverly Place character Alex Russo. “This is still Alex Russo but 15 years older,” one user commented, while another observed that Selena was “back at it.” It’s the first time she’s addressed her relationship status since the rumors started.
Drew Taggart (2023)
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Selena was first linked to Drew Taggart, a member of The Chainsmokers, in January 2023. “They aren’t trying to hide their romance by sneaking around at members only clubs,” a source told Us Weekly on January 16, 2023, adding at the time that the relationship was “very casual and low-key.” The insider added that Selena and Drew “go bowling and to the movies” when they spend time together and were “so affectionate” on dates. “Selena can hardly keep her hands off him,” the source said, adding that Selena and Drew were “having a lot of fun together.”
The Weeknd (2017)
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Selena dated The Weeknd from January 2017 to October 2017. The two became red carpet official at the Met Gala in May 2017. Selena told InStyle in September 2017 that she was “happy” in her relationship with The Weeknd. “I really am [happy],”she said at the time. “It’s great. I don’t depend on one area of my life to make me happy. It’s really important for me to love and nourish my friends and family and to make sure that I never get influenced by a guy.”
It’s believed that The Weeknd’s 2018 EP, Dear Melancholy, is about Gomez. In an interview with Esquire in 2020, The Weeknd called the album “cathartic.” “The reason why it was so short is like, I think I just had nothing else to say on this…whatever….” he said. “It was just like this cathartic piece of art. And yeah, it was short, because that’s all I had to say on this situation. When asked if the EP made him feel better, The Weeknd responded, “Yeah, of course. I mean, that would have sucked if I didn’t.”
A source told Us Weekly in March 2020 that Selena and The Weeknd are “cordial” and that she even listens to his music. “Selena is a fan of The Weeknd and his music,” the insider said. “She has no negative feelings toward him. They are cordial.”
Charlie Puth (2016)
Image: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Sipa USA.
Selena and Charlie duetted on his 2016 song, “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” and dated for a short time in 2016. “It’s not serious, but she’s super into him,” a source told Us Weekly in March 2016. Another insider called their relationship at the time a “flirty friendship.” Charlie confirmed the romance in an interview with Billboard in 2018. “[The relationship was] very short-lived, very small, but very impactful,” he said. “It really messed me up. I’m trying to put this the best way possible: It wasn’t like I was the only person on her mind. And I think I knew that going in — what I was getting myself into.”
Niall Horan (2015)
Image: Keith Mayhew / SOPA Images/Sipa USA.
Selena and Niall were seen on several dates in December 2015, which led fans to think they were dating. They were also seen kissing at Jenna Dewan’s 35th birthday party at the time. “Niall and Selena were seen kissing in the middle of the club, in front of everyone,” a source told Us Weekly at the time. “Niall and Selena definitely seemed very close and like they were together. Niall got there first with his bodyguard, then the next thing I know, I looked over and Selena was there. They were very close together, talking and whispering.” The insider continued, “Selena and Niall left together. She grabbed his arm on the way out and held onto it.”
The two were linked again in 2019. Niall responded to the rumors in 2019 and confirmed that he was “very much single.” “Do I have a girlfriend? I don’t, no,” he said. “I’m very much single, very much single.” He continued, “If I am seeing someone, if they’re just a friend of mine, [people think] I’m going out with them. That’s the most annoying part, isn’t it really? I can’t even be friends with a female.”
Zedd (2015)
Image: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Sipa USA.
Selena and Zedd collaborated on his song, “I Want You to Know, in 2015, and dated soon after. Selena confirmed the relationship in an interview with New Zealand’s The Edge Afternoons in June 2015. “I adore Zedd a lot and I definitely had a thing with him, which was nice,” she said at the time.
In an interview with Billboard in August 2017, Zedd looked back on his publicized relationship with Selena. “Reporters were calling my parents. People were hacking my friends’ phones. I was pissed, [though] I kind of knew what I was getting myself into,” he said. “She is one of the most talked-about people in the world, but I had no idea how much that would change my life.”
Justin Bieber (2010 – 2018)
Image: Lionel Hahn/Sipa USA.
Selena and Justin dated on and off from 2010 to 2018. They were first seen on a date at IHOP in 2010. They confirmed their relationship at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in February 2011. “I don’t like hiding. I do like to keep certain things to myself, but at the end of the day, I’m 18 and I’m going to fall in love,” Selena told Seventeen at the time. “I’m going to hang out with people and I’m going to explore myself, and I’m okay with that.”
The two broke up for the first time in November 2012. “She broke up with him about a week ago,” a source told People at the time. With them being apart so much it got complicated. She had some trust issues. It’s not easy, but the relationship needed to end.” They got back together in April 2013, and dated on and off until November 2014. A month later, Justin started dating his now-wife, Hailey Baldwin. Justin and Hailey split in 2016 before getting back together in 2018 and marrying in September of that year. As for Selena, she and Justin got back together at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018 before he and Hailey reunited.
“Justin is happy Selena is single. He hopes to regain her trust so they can get back together,” a source told People at the time. “They have so much to catch up on. They dealt with things separately this year that made them different people. It wouldn’t be surprising if they got back together.” They split for the final time in May 2018.
Taylor Lautner (2009)
Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP.
Selena and Taylor had a short romance in 2009 before he dated her best friend, Taylor Swift. In an interview with Seventeen in 2009, Selena revealed that she met Taylor Lautner through his Twilight co-star, Kristen Stewart. “Kristen [Stewart] was staying in my hotel,” she said at the time. “He would visit her, so we were constantly running into each other in the lobby — and we ended up meeting. We would go out to lunch and dinner, but I knew he had paparazzi following him and I had paparazzi following me. So we literally just wanted to hang out, go bowling and stuff, and it went a little too far, I think. People were getting a little crazy about us.”
Nick Jonas (2008)
Image: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Sipa USA.
Selena and Nick dated in 2008 when they were both Disney Channel stars. Selena also starred in the Jonas Brothers’ 2008 music video for “Burnin’ Up.” “We were babies,” she told CapitalFM in 2015. “That, to me, was like puppy love, you know. It was very sweet.” Selena dated Nick, at the same time her best friend, Taylor Swift, dated Nick’s older brother, Joe Jonas.
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When celebrities choose to wear an affordable item, we tend to take notice. Seeing as Hollywood has access to the very best in everything (the best facialists, manicurists, and of course, stylists), it should come as no surprise that the wardrobe’s of the A-list would be equally as exclusive. And for the most part, they are. Celebs make headlines for wearing the latest designer It bag and those designers also clamor to have famous faces wear their collections. In other words, most celebs have their pick of luxury labels, but they love an affordable fashion find just like us because, well, sometimes the cheaper option really is the best.
Recently we’ve noticed some of the best-dressed stars in wallet-friendly pieces, so we figured it was worth sharing. From the $10 tights Taylor Swift wore all over NYC to the sneakers Jennifer Lawrence just stepped out in that could be the next It pair, these are the under-$150 items celebrities are prioritizing right now.
I was in middle school during Tumblr’s prime era of influence. It was a simpler time, listening to Urban Outfitters records on an Urban Outfitters turntable and aspiring to be the most aesthetically pleasing version of yourself. We lived for artsy Instagram posts wearing chevron necklaces, reblogging edits of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, and pairing hi-low skirts with Doc Martens. I still have vivid nightmares of black-and-white angsty Tumblr posts captioned with Lorde lyrics.
But, like any social media platform, there were different sides to Tumblr. There was the famed aesthetic side, ruled by angst and filters, but there was also the side ruled by fandoms.
Let me take you way back to 2014 when 5 Seconds of Summer was opening for the hit boy band, One Direction. Your go-to outfit was Converse (or Keds, thanks to Taylor Swift), skinny jeans, and an “I <3 British Boys (and one Irish!)” shirt. The vibe was an inscrutable mix of bohemian, preppy, and a little grunge. Times may have been simpler, but they weren’t more stylish.
But just like the angsty side of Tumblr, this side also considered Urban Outfitters and Free People their fashion meccas. Pretty much all sides of Tumblr were united by their devotion to these two stores. Urban had the band tees and vinyls, Free People had the free-spirited, whimsical pieces that emulated the Lana Del Rey vibe.
And while I’ve grown out of a few of these habits (re: hi-low skirts, chevron), some things never change. I still listen to One Direction as my guilty pleasure (I’m no longer a Louis girl), and I still shop at Free People.
What I love about Free People is that they create an idyllic fashion world of exciting prints, fabrics, and styles. Their clothing is versatile — good for date nights, work days, brunches, lounging, and working out. They’ve grown up with me, and their fashion is always precisely on-trend. They’ve also taught me that you can’t put a price on high-quality clothing.
In the world of Girl Math, Free People gets you the best bang for your buck. I still have FP tank tops and jeans from middle school that have years left of wear. Their clothes even start trends of their own. For example, actress and model Kaia Gerber genuinely The Quilted Dolman Jacket in every color. And the Freya Set has been heavily duped across the fashion market.
While Free People is iconic for the bohemian in you, it’s also famous due to the amount of celebrities who wear it. And these aren’t just brand deals. Celebs, they’re just like us: obsessed with the brand that keeps on giving.
Taylor Swift In Free People
I went to a Free People event last month where they celebrated their winter boot collaboration with Sorel Footwear. They were gushing about how much Swift loved Free People, saying that whenever she goes on vacation, she shops there.
And they’re not lying, thanks to the thousands of Instagram accounts dedicated to what Taylor is wearing in every public appearance. A ton of her clothes are indeed affordable Free People options, which makes her style pretty easy to replicate!
Lately, we’ve been seeing more of Taylor since she’s extremely busy touring the world, dating NFL star Travis Kelce, re-recording her albums, and traversing around New York with her girl gang. This means we’ve gotten to see her in her Free People era and all its glory. Here are some of the best FP moments from Taylor herself:
Selena Gomez has officially declared that the white manicure is back for party season and the New Year, and quite frankly, we couldn’t be more grateful.
The Rare Beauty founder is wearing white nails for the holidays, as shown by celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik‘s most recent Instagram post. Bachik, who’s responsible for showstopping A-list manis like Gomez’s VMAs “golden glazed” nails, Jennifer Lopez’s tuxedo nails and Camila Cabello’s vintage moon-inspired mani, shared a photo of the winter-white mani on November 28 (meaning he created the look just after Thanksgiving; the official start to festive season in the US).
The mani is a far cry from Selena’s more extravagant styles like vintage floral or pastel Skittles, and significantly more subtle than the classic but bold cranberry red she wore just last week when she debuted her new honey blonde hair — it really is as white as white can be. Bachik even captioned the post, “Snow White,” followed by a snowflake and white heart emoji. ’Tis the season, I suppose!
Hear that, OPI Funny Bunny enthusiasts? Your time has finally come (again)… and by the looks of it, will last well into and through 2024. Especially since white nail polish is honestly veryquiet-luxury-coded.
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While Bachik didn’t share the exact products he used to create Selena’s Snow White mani, there are a handful of white nail polish shades one can use to create their own – like Chanel Le Vernis in Insomniaque, Dior Nail Polish Couture Colour in Jasmin, and Nailberry’s nail lacquer in Flocon. Essie’s 1 Blanc is a firm favourite, too. If true white still feels a bit too plain for your taste, try topping off your white polish with a chrome or matte finish.
The truth is there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to wear white. All that really matters is that white nail polish is back! And for that, we thank Selena Gomez. Shop our picks below.
Taylor Swift loves a girls’ night, and when she gets the crew together in NYC, they all dress to the nines—Selena Gomez included, of course. Over the weekend, Gigi Hadid, Sophie Turner, Brittany Mahomes, and Cara Delevingne joined Swift and Gomez at Bond St and we all got the requisite look at their outfits for the occasion. Gomez, in particular, went full-on fall with a belted camel sweater dress, tights, and a Saint Lauren bucket bag. But it was her chic slingback flats that caught my eye.
Gomez has been known to regularly wear affordable shoes, and this weekend was no exception. Her polished Steve Madden Steve Madden slingbacks (with just the tiniest block heel) were the perfect complement to her elegant look. And yes, they’re fully stocked in every size and come in at just $90. Scroll to shop them to complement your own wardrobe (along with a few more Steve Madden pairs that are definitely worth considering).
If Taylor Swift’s latest girls’ night out was any indication, bucket bags are definitely back. On Nov. 4, the singer hit the town with famous friends Selena Gomez, Sophie Turner, Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, and Brittany Mahomes for a star-studded dinner at NYC’s BondSt. While each star was dressed to impress in their own stylish ways, Swift and Gomez’s bag choices in particular caught our attention.
Swift carried a croc-embossed bucket bag from Stella McCartney to top off her black long-sleeve top, plaid miniskirt, and over-the-knee boots. The bag was adorned with the designer’s signature chainlink detail and made of an innovative vegan material sourced from apple waste. Similarly, Gomez held a black bucket bag with gold hardware from Saint Laurent to accessorize her cozy belted sweater dress. Their versatile purse choices make sense considering bucket bags made a splash on the fall/winter 2023 runways earlier this year.
Swift’s McCartney purse is from the aforementioned collection, while luxury brands like Bottega Veneta, Hermés, and Ulla Johnson also reimagined the design for their recent shows. Mansur Gavriel — which popularized the now-ubiquitous silhouette in 2013 — recently debuted a revamped, eco-conscious version of its famous style. More affordable brands like A.P.C and Madewell have also come out with their own iterations, like the latter’s The Essential Bucket Tote recently worn by Katie Holmes.
The bucket bag is making a steady comeback as larger, more practical bags take priority over micro-mini and kitschy statement accessories. Aside from Gomez and Swift, celebrities like Holmes, Meghan Markle, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are also bringing back the versatile, hands-free style this fall. Take a closer look at the trend in action ahead.
I love a good manicure, but I don’t love paying for one. I also don’t love taking time out of my day to go to the salon every time I want a fresh coat of paint. That’s why I’m always on the hunt for new nailcare products and techniques—anything that will help me achieve an at-home manicure without looking, well, like I have an at-home manicure. In other words, I’m trying to strike a balance between affordability and professional-looking results. It hasn’t been easy.
You can imagine my excitement when I caught wind of a nail polish brand that A) allows me to create a long-lasting gel manicure in the comfort of my own home B) is worn by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Alessandra Ambrosio, and more, and C) is actually affordable. I’m talking $13 a bottle. Whatever you call it, a trifecta or a triple threat, I’m convinced this is it. Keep scrolling to see which brand it is and learn why I (and so many celebs) love it.
“In order to give an honest review of a celebrity-owned product, it is important to put aside your admiration for the celebrity and focus on the product’s performance itself,” Bravo continues. “This can be difficult for some people to do, which can make it hard to understand if someone loves the product because it is good, or if they love it simply because it is coming from their ride-or-die celebrity.” She also considers the difference in resources between celeb-owned brands and small, independent ones. This alone can help determine the quality of the product as well as a marketing approach.
“You know a celebrity-owned brand is good when people are talking so much about how good a product is that folks who aren’t as familiar with the brand don’t even know it is celebrity-owned,” she explains. Taking that into consideration, it’s worth questioning the continued relevance of celeb brands in the beauty space. As consumer demands change to push for improved inclusivity and accessibility, ideally, a brand’s response should echo those efforts. If this is the case, then with increased reach comes heightened familiarity (even more so for celebrity beauty brands).
I took a look at some of the jaw-dropping numbers some of our favorite celeb-owned beauty brands have hit over the past year thanks to their massive TikTok presence. Cosmetify’s TikTok Beauty Index, by October 2023, revealed that Rare Beauty hit 3.5 million followers (with 50.3 million video likes and with 7.7 billion hashtag views), making it the second most popular TikTok beauty brand behind Huda Beauty. That being said, it holds the highest following and likes of any celeb-owned beauty brand on the platform. But as we head into 2024, I’m wondering if this generation’s most beloved beauty brands will continue to keep up with the fast-paced trend cycle of the industry.
“One of my mutuals Heather Hurst shared a great analogy about fashion trends that I believe applies to beauty as well. Basically, imagine every beauty trend is on a conveyor belt that circles round and round,” Bravo continues. “You do not have to grab everything off of the conveyor belt all at once.” In other words, if you’re not drawn to a product, its popularity alone shouldn’t be enough to inspire a purchase. In its simplest form, her biggest beauty advice when it comes to the industry’s trend cycle is as follows: enjoy what interests you and don’t feel pressure to invest in the rest because when it comes to trend cycles, everything comes back around… eventually.
Erin Walsh knows what’s good for you. As the celebrity stylist behind Anne Hathaway’s bombshell style renaissance, she’s established herself as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand fashion fairy godmothers. Now, Selena Gomez is getting in on the magic. At the inaugural Rare Impact Fund Benefit, held in Los Angeles on Oct. 4, the star solidified her new style era in several jaw-dropping looks in partnership with Walsh. It appears Gomez began working with Walsh in June after many years with Kate Young.
Walsh soft launched Gomez’s fresh style over the course of recent award shows and Paris Fashion Week outings. Gomez first started turning heads with the red sheer illusion dress she wore to the 2023 MTV VMAs. Later, in Paris, she popped up in a polka-dot Jacquemus minidress and a sultry Versace slip.
“I think style resonates with people when we see someone really shining. My goal is always to harness someone’s best essence and share it with the world,” Walsh tells POPSUGAR. “There are so many beautiful layers with Selena, and her superpower of sharing her vulnerability with the world makes it pretty magical. The clothes part is somewhat incidental in this way, like the icing on a cake?”
“There are so many beautiful layers with Selena.”
More recently, Gomez attended her initiative’s benefit wearing a larger-than-life floral Rahul Mishra minidress, consisting of glittery purple petals that come together to form a delicate skirt. Gomez wore the sustainable look with strappy lilac sandals and statement earrings, leaving her hair down and straight. “The look aims to imitate the petals of an Iris flower through intricate hand embroidery,” the brand wrote on Instagram, showing the intensive process behind the making of the dress.
Later that evening, Gomez and Walsh turned out another glamorous look: a custom floor-length Valentino gown completely encrusted with silver crystals. The ensemble caught the light from every angle, featuring a halter neckline, a rosette detail, and a long train for added drama. “I also really love highlighting this cool, empowered, sensual, divine feminine,” Walsh notes. “I think we could all use a little bit of tapping into that lately.”
Ahead, see highlights from Gomez and Walsh’s blossoming partnership.
A twice-repeated “joke” in the formulaic (for the series) season finale of Only Murders in the Building, “Opening Night,” has two of its main characters telling their current significant others, “I like LA…in small doses.” The “I like LA” said in a manner in which a person might note that they don’t mind something, but of course it wouldn’t be their first choice. As it isn’t for Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), the former being the one to utter this “quip” first while grossly kissing his leading lady, Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep), at the after-party for Death Rattle Dazzle!’s opening night.
The subject comes up because Loretta is being approached with other offers after her performance in the musical is well-received. Offers that would inevitably take her to the place where successful actors go: Hollywood. This adding another cliffhanger-y effect (along with the predictable murder of yet another person who orbits the Oliver/Mabel/Charles-Haden trio) to the finale that will allow a dragging out of events for season four.
In another scene from the party, Mabel then repeats that exact sentiment to her cameraman boyfriend, Tobert (Jesse Williams), who is about to go to said town to work on an “indie film.” Not sure why he couldn’t just say “movie”—oh wait, it’s because he’s become a faux pretentious New York asshole who needs to make LA sound more “legit” than someone like him thinks it is. Including Mabel, who declines the offer to accompany him to said city so that they might continue their budding romance.
Instead, she would prefer to float around in misery in New York solving crimes. Even though, as Tobert points out, “You’re always talking about feeling stuck and lost. This could be different.” What he doesn’t take into account is that most people who live in New York get off on that feeling. Wouldn’t honestly know what to do without it. Until some fed-up residents finally reach their threshold and actually do move to LA, often the “only” other option for Americans who see themselves as “creative” and “liberal” (a.k.a. they can fit right in working for ad agencies and support the LGBTQIA+ community, but don’t really want the capitalistic status quo to alter). This despite how climate change is literally eroding away both options.
That aside, what is most bothersome about the dig at LA isn’t just that it’s a tired trope favored by the likes of “staunch” New Yorkers. No, what’s most bothersome is the continued commitment New Yorkers have to their delusions about the city being “everything.” This still extends to one such exemplar of rigid New Yorkerism: Woody Allen (and yes, other New Yorkers should take pause to think about how the disgraced writer-director remains one of the ultimate mascots of the city). A man who (as Alvy Singer in Annie Hall) once announced, “I don’t wanna live in a city where the only cultural advantage is that you can make a right turn on a red light.” This said after his friend, Rob (Tony Roberts)—though both call each other Max—insists, “California, Max. Get the hell out of this crazy city. Forget it. We move to sunny LA. All of show business is there.”
Such “enticements” are no match for what Carrie Bradshaw would call “Manhattan Guy” (or, in the wake of the 90s and early 00s, “Brooklyn Guy”), the mutant strain of human who refuses to ever leave the city, not even for a vacation. Convinced that “everything you need is right here.” Rats, bed bugs, self-superior cunts, the normalization of alcoholism, trust fund babies who will always succeed at “art,” shitty apartments for the price of a limb and the constant promise that it’s all worth it for the “culture.” This increasingly consisting of nothing more than the same corporate outposts one finds in any part of America. But the delusion must persist for people like Oliver and Mabel (though it’s easier for Oliver to sustain because of his Broadway “career”) as they’ve put so many years into the endeavor.
The only one with blatant torn loyalties is Steve Martin. Whose character, Charles-Haden Savage, pronounces of the seeming exodus, “Los Angeles. A city so nice, they named it Los Angeles.” Because yes, Steve Martin is far more LA than he has ever been New York. Ergo his 1991 love letter to the city, L.A. Story. Which, funnily enough, also stars the New York icon that is Sarah Jessica Parker. With Martin himself being raised in Inglewood and Garden Grove, then attending college in the LA area, it was no wonder he brought into existence something like L.A. Story, or the far more serious Shopgirl in 2005 (an adaptation of his own 2000 novella of the same name). Both works see the good and bad in L.A., while eventually playing up the overriding positive aspects of living there.
In contrast, New Yorkers are far more adept at side-stepping (read: blinding themselves to) the manifold drawbacks to their prom king city. But, like the prom king, it’s well-known he’s a douchebag who ought to be dethroned by someone more complex and multi-dimensional. Despite this, LA is ironically the place that remains, even now, viewed as lacking in complexity. A “pretty face,” so to speak, with nothing to offer but metal (the cars) and plasticity (the reconstructive surgeries). It’s the city that serves everyone’s purpose in being easy to take a pot-shot at. This even occurred in the most-seen movie of the summer, Barbie, when our narrator, Helen Mirren, says, “Barbie left behind the pastels and plastics of Barbie Land for the pastels and plastics of Los Angeles.” Cue the audience laughter. Because, ha ha, “LA sucks and is so vapid” is ostensibly evergreen comedy gold.
But, for those willing to look beyond the stereotype and deprogram from the far shittier lifestyle available in New York, turn to the revamping of a famous quote about England in Richard II. The one that Steve Martin as Harris K. Telemacher opens L.A. Story with: “I have a favorite quote about L.A. by Shakespeare: ‘This other Eden, demi-paradise, this precious stone set in the silver sea of this earth, this ground…this Los Angeles.’” A milieu that is far more than just “likable in small doses.”
An author, content writer, and avid reader, Meenal loves the world of fantasy, fiction, literature, cinema, and
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An author, content writer, and avid reader, Meenal loves the world of fantasy, fiction, literature, cinema, and entertainment. With more than 1500 articles to her credit, she is currently creating Hollywood and pop culture content.
Her words eerily echo in the final moments of season three’s finale, in which Sazz Pataki, Charles’s former acting stand-in played by Jane Lynch, is shot within the Arconia’s walls. Murder is nothing new in this Manhattan apartment building, but given that the bullet was fired from across the courtyard, this killer might be close to home. As for Mabel (Selena Gomez), Oliver (Martin Short), and Charles (Steve Martin), whose apartment Sazz was standing in at the time of the murder—their podcasting days have landed them directly in the line of fire.
All of that will be uncovered in the show’s fourth season, which was officially announced on Tuesday. Cocreator John Hoffman confirms to Vanity Fair that the Only Murders writers room reconvenes this upcoming Monday following the Writers Guild of America deal. Until then, we have season three to unpack.
In the finale, it’s revealed that the death of Paul Rudd’s Ben Glenroy was orchestrated by a mother-and-son duo. But contrary to early season clues, the culprits are not leading lady Loretta (Meryl Streep) and her long-lost son, Dickie (Jeremy Shamos), with whom she reunites during the production. After obtaining an advance copy of a scathing review for Oliver’s play, Broadway producer Donna DeMeo (Linda Emond) poisons the show’s leading man in order to buy herself some time to retool. It’s her son, Cliff (Wesley Taylor), eager to prove himself as a first-time producer, who then commits the murder. Mother and son are escorted from Death Rattle Dazzle’s opening night in handcuffs, allowing our main trio only minutes to process their findings before another death blow is dealt.
Hoffman chats with VF about the personal tragedy that inspired this season’s big reveal, and Lynch’s surprising reaction to news of her character’s demise.
Vanity Fair:I want to start with the big reveal that Cliff killed Ben. In the second season, youworked backwards from the murderer’s identityin crafting the season. Did you take a similar approach in season 3?
John Hoffman: Yes, we knew early. I’m a wreck of insecurity as a writer in a lot of ways. So I need the confidence to understand how to build these stories both logistically and narratively. Then we have to ask ourselves 4,000 questions: what have we done before? What’s new about it? Do we buy it? Blah, blah, blah. You go through all of these processes to land at all this.
My mother passed away a year ago, so in the midst of writing this season, suddenly these tracks of motherhood and protection and mothers and sons became threads for the season. That felt where it was guided. So my insecurities and the confidence around that felt on the emotional level, like, oh, that’s interesting terrain for me right now to sort of process. And then the writers took over and did amazing things.
Donna and Cliff being introduced in a fairly ridiculous way felt fun for the Broadway nature of where we were going, and then to deepen that through the season and find touchstone points where you got a little more dimension. Donna wasn’t looking to kill him. She was looking to pause for the play, and everything that followed from that she didn’t control, but then was taken up by her son. That’s all being threaded through with the Dickie and Loretta story, and the ridiculous Death Rattle Dazzle story. So all three of those weave [together] by the end of a season.
Selena Gomez has recently wowed netizens and fans alike with the range of fashion she showcased during her trip to Paris. The singer flaunted several interesting and unique looks as she stepped out in the City of Love to party, hang out with friends, and attend fashion events. She wasn't the only star present in France as the Paris Fashion Week saw a hoard of celebrities attending shows in the city including Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner.
The pop star donned every look from corset tops and mini dresses to shirt dresses and maxi outfits in her fashion lookbook and managed to impress everyone. Gomez also posted selfies and behind-the-scenes in a photo dump on her Instagram. Here's what she posted.
ALSO READ:Selena Gomez stuns in white polka-dot minidress during day, glittery black one at night amidst much-talked-about Paris trip
Selena Gomez shares Paris photo dump on Instagram
Gomez took to her profile and posted several images from the trip, captioning it, "Paris was fun." The 31-year-old started off with a selfie of herself wearing her viral black corset suit look. The lighting of the image kept the focus on the Only Murders in the Building star's face and her interesting choice to go for a blue eye makeup look with the outfit. The next was a mirror selfie of her in the leopard print bodycon dress she wore during the early days of the trip.
The third slide featured another selfie this time with Gomez's best friend Nicola Peltz. The two pouted in the image with their cheeks pressing together. The actress and the model have hung out more than twice during their Paris stay. From dinner and attending a soccer game to partying at night, the two have enjoyed some quality time during this fun getaway. The next image featured the thigh-high black boots that Gomez wore with her white shirt dress.
Selena Gomez posts selfies and behind-the-scenes from France trip
Sliding further, the next photo was a selfie of her with Peltz and her husband Brooklyn Beckham, as well as people from her team. Gomez is wearing a black mask, glasses, and headphones as she snaps the shot. The last picture is a selfie of herself in the shirt dress and the backdrop seems to be of the restaurant she had dinner in with Peltz as well as Beckham. Gomez pouts in the image with several buttons of her white shirt visibly open.
ALSO READ:Selena Gomez goes back to trusted corset tops, looks fresh as a daisy as she steps out in Paris while fans mob her for pictures
So we tapped up Dom to ask for more info. “The brief was romantic, but there’s a fine line of it going a bit ‘wedding’, so we have to bring it back to fashion,” he reveals. “The shape was key for this look, we didn’t want a ballerina bun or something simple. We wanted it to be almost Moulin Rouge or Burlesque-esque,” he adds.
As for how to achieve it, “start by blow drying the hair into the direction of the bun position so it makes it sleek and neat,” says Dom, whose Instagram bio lists his credentials as International Creative Director at Color Wow. “Pull it into a high ponytail, brushing it back into position just under the crown of the head. Once the pony is in place and tied off, start to twist and add interest and texture, pinning as you go” he says.
“The bun shape was rounded and prominent in the front but at the back, it fell and cascaded much closer to the head, folding in on itself to add texture and depth. I left out a section at the very back and made an intricate detail and swirled the remaining hair into place – again to add a fashion element,” he says.
Once set, Dom detailed out the baby hairs and edges and cleaned up the hairline, (we reckon a bit of ColorWow Pop & Lock High Gloss might have been involved to lock baby hairs into place and add shine). “I wanted the bun to play a part, so I kept the hairline feminine and not too strong,” he revealed. And there you have it, a Selena Gomez worthy updo that quite literally offers a fresh twist on the ballerina bun and looks stunning while you’re at it.
And if you’re here for all the deets, the singer finished the look off with a romantic red velvet makeup look created by mua, Avia Solomon, who used Rare Beauty to create a statement red lip that looks suspiciously like the Lip Souffle in Inspire to us… Yum.
When we look back at what defined fashion in 2023, it will undoubtedly be the quiet luxury aesthetic that has seemingly permeated every aspect of fashion. But as the end of the year nears, there are signs that people also just want to have fun with fashion. One person that’s been displaying that as of late is Selena Gomez.
Gomez is currently in Paris for Paris Fashion Week, and some of her looks have been far more “maximalist” than “quiet luxury”. While many of the fall 2023 shoe trends are understated and elegant (think riding boots and slingback flats), Gomez opted to wear the least quiet luxury shoe trend of them all to go to a restaurant last night. That trend is snakeskin boots. For context, Khaite can be credited with reviving the snakeskin trend with its python-studded S/S 23 collection. Ever since then, the fashion crowd has been enamored.
In Paris, Gomez wore a pair of thigh-high Stuart Weitzman boots, keeping the rest of the outfit simple with a white button-down and corset and denim miniskirt. It’s a look that’s easy to replicate with the right tools—the most important one being the snakeskin boots. Given that, scroll on to shop some of the best pairs on the internet.
Leave it to Selena Gomez to pull off the best Risky Business outfit before it’s even October. The “Only Murders in the Building” actress shared a mirror selfie from her hotel room, showing off her legs in a pair of statuesque stiletto over-the-knee boots and a fitted white shirt dress.
Styled by Erin Walsh, the outfit is almost deceptively simple—just the shirt and boots, no pants—but made for excellent evening attire with the addition of some simple, everyday gold jewelry from Gomez’s favorite designers.
While the pantsless look isn’t for everyone, this outfit illustrates the importance of choosing the right proportions from head to toe. A loose-fitting button-down shirt paired with just socks and sunglasses is very Tom Cruise circa 1983, but amp up the volume on top, and cover up some leg with a stunning pair of boots, and suddenly, you’re so 2023.
Ahead, check out a few of our favorite white button-downs and some seriously chic over-the-knee boots that can be worn to recreate Gomez’s eye-catching outfit. And, if you want to repurpose the shirt for Halloween, it makes for a great last-minute costume, too.
Okay, I’ll admit it’s way too early to be thinking about Christmas…or is it? It’s almost October already, which is crazy to even think about. Before you know it, you’ll be making your gift lists and budgeting for the ones you love.
To mitigate some of that burden, it doesn’t hurt to get your shopping done early. Which is why brands start releasing their gift sets now so you can plan accordingly. But if you’re not in the mood to start shopping for others just yet, it’s a great excuse for you to sample best-selling products from makeup and beauty brands.
I’ve found some of my favorite go-to products by purchasing these sets for myself…it’s also the perfect time to stock up on your go-to’s because most brands release value sizes of their bestsellers as well. Essentially, it’s an opportunity to replenish your makeup bag and skincare cabinet at a discount.
We all deserve a little treat here and there, which is why I plan on getting more for less. However, not every set is the same. You can get scammed by these seemingly good deals. Some brands (and I won’t name names this time) include sample sizes or minis that actually aren’t worth your money at all.
If you want the best Sephora holiday sets approved by yours truly, here’s what’s on my gift list this 2023:
Don’t be nervous about four mini products…the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush lasts literal years and it comes with two in the shades Wisdom and Virtue. Add the two Positive Light Liquid Luminizers in Magnetize and Transcend and you’ll never run out of blush or highlighter.
With a full-sized Olaplex shampoo and conditioner, and a mini No. 3 Hair Perfector mask, this set saves you over $20. Good for dry, damaged locks, your hair will thank you.
Everyone needs a good set of brushes, and at over $100 discount, this set is perfect. Complete with a foundation, powder, blush, highlight, concealer, shadow brushes and a vegan leather pouch, you won’t want to miss this deal.
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