As the curtain rises on 2026, the long-standing “internet-fueled” feud between Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber has entered a sophisticated new phase—one defined by personal milestones and a mutual demand for peace. 2025 was a transformative year for both women: Selena Gomez celebrated her marriage to music producer Benny Blanco, while Hailey Bieber embraced her first year of motherhood with son Jack Blues. Yet, even as they thrive in their respective lives, the digital echoes of the 2010s continue to haunt their headlines. From beauty brand rivalries at Sephora to a controversial New Year’s post that reignited “Jelena” timeline debates, the narrative of 2026 is no longer about a love triangle, but about two women reclaiming their peace from a public that refuses to let them move on.
The 2025 Milestones: Marriage and Motherhood
The landscape of 2026 looks vastly different for both women than it did even two years ago. In September 2025, Selena Gomez officially tied the knot with music producer Benny Blanco, a celebration of love that many fans viewed as the ultimate closing of her “heartbreak” chapter. Meanwhile, Hailey Bieber spent 2025 navigating the joys and challenges of new motherhood after welcoming her son, Jack Blues Bieber, in August 2024.
These significant shifts were expected to finally silence the comparison culture. However, as Hailey noted in a 2025 interview, “You would think after having a child, people would maybe move on… but no.” The public’s obsession remains a persistent shadow, even as both women have publicly supported each other’s happiness, with Hailey famously “liking” Selena’s engagement post in late 2024 to signal a quiet truce.
The “Rare vs. Rhode” Rivalry: Sephora Showdowns
In 2025, the drama shifted from the personal to the professional as Rhode Skin officially launched at Sephora—the same global retailer that houses Selena’s powerhouse brand, Rare Beauty. This business overlap sparked a fresh wave of competitive narratives. During a Wall Street Journal interview in October 2025, Hailey addressed being pitted against other celebrity founders, stating, “I don’t feel competitive with people that I’m not inspired by.”
Though some interpreted the “not inspired by” comment as a jab at Rare Beauty, Selena Gomez was quick to intercede. In a swiftly deleted Instagram Story, she defended Hailey, writing: “Just leave the girl alone. She can say whatever she wants… All brands inspire me. There is room for everyone.” This moment was a masterclass in modern celebrity diplomacy, with Selena intentionally using her platform to de-escalate the “fan wars” that have plagued both women for over a decade.
New Year, Old Drama: The “10 Years” Controversy
The calm of early 2026 was briefly interrupted on January 1st, when Hailey Bieber posted a romantic throwback photo with Justin Bieber captioned, “10 New Years together and counting.” While intended as a sweet tribute to their long history, the post immediately sent social media sleuths into a frenzy. Fans pointed out that the 10-year timeline would overlap with Justin’s final “on-and-off” period with Selena in 2017 and 2018.
Netizens on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) labeled the timeline “blurry,” reigniting decades-old cheating rumors. While Hailey’s supporters argued she was likely referring to the ten-year anniversary of their first meeting or initial New Year’s Eve together in 2015/2016, the incident proved that the public’s appetite for “timeline drama” remains insatiable. Neither Selena nor Hailey have directly addressed the 2026 New Year’s controversy, choosing instead to focus on their respective family lives.
Radical Transparency: Defending the Narrative
Throughout 2025, both women took significant steps toward radical transparency regarding their mental health. Following a March 2025 TikTok rumor that falsely claimed Hailey had “liked” a video mocking Selena’s Interview magazine cover, Hailey’s representatives took the rare step of issuing a formal statement to E! News: “This never happened… This entire story has been fabricated by a content creator looking to capitalize off an old, tired narrative.”
This proactive approach has become the new standard for the Bieber-Gomez dynamic. In 2026, they are no longer waiting for the dust to settle; they are actively clearing it. By publicly condemning “vile” and “dangerous” fan theories, they have formed an unspoken alliance against the “drama accounts” that thrive on their perceived rivalry. As Hailey stated in her 2025 WSJ profile, “It’s not up to you to change what people have made up in their minds,” a sentiment that Selena has echoed in her own advocacy for digital kindness.
The 2026 Outlook: Parallel Paths
As we move deeper into 2026, it is clear that Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber are no longer defined by the man they both loved, but by the empires they have built and the peace they have secured. Selena is currently eyeing a 2026 Emmy run for the final season of Only Murders in the Building, while Hailey is expanding Rhode into the wellness and “mom-care” markets.
Their paths, though parallel, are no longer crossing in the volatile ways of the past. At the 2025 Academy Museum Gala, they avoided a red-carpet collision by hours, not because of a “feud,” but because they were simply leading different lives. One is a newly married mogul celebrating a career peak; the other is a young mother and entrepreneur shaping the future of skincare. In 2026, the greatest “plot twist” isn’t a secret rivalry—it’s the boring, beautiful reality of two women who have finally outgrown the world’s expectations.
