Hold on to your hat, Justin Bieber. Selena Gomez’s PR swiftly shutdown reunion talk , after Gomez and Bieber’s joint appearance in a Snapchat video uploaded by the Miami-based pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. on Wednesday sent Twitter into a near-meltdown.
The full video — which is 77 seconds in duration — shows the ex-sweethearts attending a church-related gathering with pals in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, May 27. Bieber and Gomez are seen smiling during the clip and seemed at ease in each other’s company.
Wilkerson also shot solo Snapchat videos with the two stars, who were reportedly spotted at Hillsong Church in L.A. on May 24.
E! News ‘ Gomez source reveals the former couple’s meet on Wednesday was unexpected and unplanned. The insider added, “They are definitely not back together whatsoever.”
Needlessly, the source continued, “Definitely not.”
In short, Jelena fans stand down. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are not back together and have not reunited, despite hasty conclusions after the Snapchat story surfaced.
The bible study was hosted by famed pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. of Miami’s Trinity Church. Wilkerson spent time at Bieber’s Beverly Hills home over Memorial Day Weekend with the singer’s spiritual adviser and pal, Pastor Carl Lentz and others. Gomez has reportedly also attended study sessions held by Wilkerson.
E! News goes on to state that things have thawed between the “Where Are U Now” singer and “The Heart Wants What It Wants” songstress.
“For the first time, it wasn’t awkward,” a Gomez source informs E! “They were cordial and friendly to each other. It was harmless.”
The Gomez insider elaborates, saying, “Justin seems to be in a good place and Selena is also in a fantastic place.”
The source then indulges in the predictable sell of Gomez as the ex who is, “doing better than ever.” E! bulks up that “message” by stating the pop princess’ private life is on “solid ground, but she has four movies in the can and is working on finishing her new album.”
In E!’s clearly Gomez-promoting update, Bieber is allowed a patronizing footnote, that “he has been keeping out of trouble.” Their report also notes his recent cover of Boyz II Men’s “ I’ll Make Love to You ” at a Hollywood hotel.
In reality, despite the determined efforts of a begrudging, often fabricated media narrative, Justin Bieber’s 2015 comeback is surging ahead.
The singer broke the Internet and added millions to Calvin Klein’s social media penetration with his jeans and underwear campaign unveiling in January. After spending the first three months of 2015 apologizing for missteps, this culminated in a Comedy Central Roast . The event became the network’s third highest rated but didn’t end the press sniping.
Nevertheless, the 21-year-old got stuck into recording his anticipated, new album, which is being produced by Rick Rubin and Kanye West. In addition, Bieber is riding on the wave of his a record “ Where Are U Now ,” his collaboration with Jack U’s Diplo and Skrillex.
The single has broken through to the Top 20 on pop radio airplay and continues to kill it on Spotify . The song is No. 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, No. 6 on the UK’s Official Top 40 chart, No. 12 on U.S. iTunes, No. 4 on UK iTunes, and has only just slipped to No. 2 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs chart. The single’s success has been achieved without the aid of a music video, or hawking a fake romance in the press.
Bieber also has a cameo role in the upcoming Zoolander 2 movie. He was featured twice in Mario Testino’s prestigious “Towel Series,” and was interviewed and photographed by Karl Lagerfeld for V magazine. Vogue subsequently included the heartthrob as part of the new “Hollywood Brat Pack” alongside Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Ansel Elgort, and more.
Notably, Bieber’s recent Carpool Karaoke video with The Late Late Show’s James Corden is the most viewed video of Corden’s hosting tenure to date. Variety reports Bieber’s funny turn on the show helped the Brit host trump the finale of Late Show with David Letterman in digital audience ratings.
Hours before Bieber and Gomez’s friendly run-in, Justin performed an acoustic concert for 20 girls at a Make-A-Wish event at Lucky Strike Lanes LA Live. Bieber’s visit continues the consistent work he has been doing with the Foundation since 2009.
Thank you @MakeAWish and @justinbieber for making my daughters day amazing! #LHandSign #lifetimememories pic.twitter.com/s5xTg9Jkqv
— Elizabeth (@ElizabethJane76) May 28, 2015
. @JustinBieber Performs Make-A-Wish Concert — VIDEOS/PHOTOS! http://t.co/Uf3t7G78yo #makeawish @scooterbraun pic.twitter.com/LcuG1RcXhJ
— Gossip Cop (@GossipCop) May 28, 2015
@MakeAWish @SFWish @justinbieber Thank you for granting the wishes of so many. Thanks for making my Dream a Reality pic.twitter.com/bcMvqDD6rI
— NIVIA (@NiviaCharles) May 29, 2015
Bieber has repeatedly stated in multiple interviews that he is currently single and chooses to be. Although the singer recently spent a weekend hanging out with the Brit model Jayde Pierce , a Bieber source later told Gossip Cop that the pair are not dating .
All of which reasonably suggests neither Bieber nor Gomez is looking to jump back into a romance with the other again. In which case that is what should be reported, rather than a one-sided, de facto press release designed to promote one as “better” than the other.
[Images via Snapchat/Instagram/Getty Images]