Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez’s on-again, off-again, four-year relationship has been a highly lucrative feeding trough for tabloids for years, with fans on both sides continually adding their dimes’ worth.
So, it seems only fair that the two people who were actually in the now-ended romance should be able to express their perspectives.
Speaking to the radio hosts of the Kyle and Jackie O Show in Australia on Monday, via a phone-in during a break in Clear Lake, Indiana, Bieber unexpectedly opened up about the heartbreak he experienced in an evidently significant relationship, although he didn’t name names.
“I haven’t been in a relationship for a while now. I’m chilling,” Bieber told his hosts when asked who he might be bringing to Australia when he performs in a promo trip later this month, in support of his new single, “What Do You Mean?”
The singer added that he was “just hanging out, just being by myself.”
Explaining, he continued, “But the thing is, I’m a relationship type of guy. I love being in love and I love cuddling. I love all that stuff.”
The 21-year-old went on, “But, I got my heart broken . So I’m just trying to, like, just let that heal up.”
Inevitably, Bieber’s hosts pressed the superstar on the romance question. After the Canadian rebuffed Jackie O’s line of questioning, she changed her approach and asked if he was “amazed” about the recent fans (and media) focus on the graffiti reference to his former girlfriend, Selena Gomez , which appears in the final, skateboarding rave scene in the “What Do You Mean?” music video.
The “Sel” part of “Selena” is visible on a set wall at the 3:47 minute mark in the visual.
However, Bieber appeared genuinely bewildered when the “Selena” graffiti question was raised.
“I think that was… what are you talking about?” he replied to Jackie O, adding, “‘Cause I think that might be fake, I think what you’re talking about. What are you referring to?”
Amid Bieber’s queries, the female host amiably interjected, “Oh, it’s not real!… That’s fake!”
To which, the singer — who still sounded completely baffled about the “Selena” marking — emphatically replied, “Nah! That wasn’t me that did that!”
I see you Selena #Jelena pic.twitter.com/VAJRspoYai
— Proud of my idols (@mirella77948266) August 31, 2015
After the interview aired, a Bieber source told the Inquisitr that the “Selena” graffiti was spray-painted by random kids on-set, and the singer wasn’t aware of it. Listening to the radio interview , the Biebs certainly sounded as if he didn’t know about the Selena graffiti. On a video set, as the leading man, he would have been busy filming, so this seems understandable.
It’s worth noting that Bieber did not unequivocally say that the “Selena” spray painting was fake. He said he thought it “might be fake,” before confirming that whatever Jackie O was referring to wasn’t made by him.
Elsewhere, other outlets continue to speculate that the tag is fake, while some wonder if the heartthrob still holds a spark for the actress-singer.
Online chatter reveals Bieber’s admission that he “got his heart broken” in a previous relationship wasn’t news to many Beliebers, some of whom tweeted sympathy. Many may be familiar with the Biebs’ low-fi, confessional, 2013 Journals LP, in which he apologized to an unnamed ex-partner on the song “Recovery,” and acknowledged an unspecified misstep amid general lovesickness on tracks such as, “Heartbreaker,” “All Bad,” “Bad Day,” “All That Matters,” “Change Me,” and “Rollercoaster.”
A selection of Justin Bieber fans’ tweets on the subject follows.
1. Y’all dumbasses need to realise that he didn’t say ‘I’m the ONLY one that got my heart broken’ & he as much as her has the right to feel
— ? (@naturalIy) September 7, 2015
Hurt. 2. That being said you can’t come for one talking about their relationship & not the other. They’ll both get asked & will answer.
— ? (@naturalIy) September 7, 2015
I think over analyzing someone’s relationship is pointless. No one will ever know the story, so just don’t talk about it. lol.
— Asia Gousse (@DazzlingAsia) September 7, 2015
Why is it so hard to understand for y’all that they both got hurt omg its just that justin finally got the chance to actually speak up….
— maham (@fallingforyous) September 7, 2015
How about stans let sel and jb feel what they feel and stop trying to speak for them. They’re both doing really well right now.
— True (@JustTruuu) September 7, 2015
They both have successful singles out and are concentrating on their careers. Which is what everyone claims they’re here for.
— True (@JustTruuu) September 7, 2015
On the other side of the divide, some Selena Gomez fans also shared their views.
justin cheated on selena in 2012, 2013 and 2014 yet “I’m a relationship type of guy.”
— steph (@selsswift) September 8, 2015
They should both stop talking about eatch other on interviews
— Mariana. (@lovees__bieber) September 7, 2015
I hope someday Selena finds a great guy who makes her the happiest girl ever and fixes her broken heart. She deserves it.
— Selena Gomez (@partyongomez) September 8, 2015
And so on. As observers of fans, who appear to be overly invested in the former Jelena relationship will know, the blame game is a particularly futile — but seemingly, intrinsic — obsession in the Bieber-Gomez fandoms.
The irony? Both stars have cited the other as muses for their recent singles — which are widely seen as the best work of their careers to date — and, to some extent, their upcoming albums.
In Bieber’s collaboration with Jack Ü, he laments “Where Are Ü Now?” and sings of the support he gave a lover “When you broke down I didn’t leave you.”
Meanwhile, the stark opening of “The Heart Wants What It Wants” and its lyrics’ nuances imply Gomez experienced Bieber as a boyfriend who loved her but may have played away on some past occasion.
However, history tells us the pair willingly reunited numerous times . It is just as possible their on-off breakups were down to the miscommunication and push me/pull you reasons Bieber expresses in his latest single “What Do You Mean?”
Fast forward to today, Gomez and Bieber appear to have moved on and both seem very focused on their respective careers. Some schools of thought see love and heartbreak — especially in youthful romances — as necessary rites of passage that provide lessons for future relationships.
For artists, such experiences can be the greatest source of creative growth.
Bieber and Gomez may agree. The former couple were seen seemingly enjoying each other’s company at a Beverly Hills hotel in July, and other instances. While it’s not thought the pair are romantically involved, Gomez recently said of Bieber, “We spur each other on. People try to turn us against each other, but that will never work. We’ll always support one another.”
Something to think about, fans.
EXCLUSIVE! Are these two ever done?! #SelenaGomez & #JustinBieber spotted together! http://t.co/P6XEHWGsLF pic.twitter.com/LeMnPVjwz5
— Perez Hilton (@PerezHilton) July 11, 2015
[Images via WENN / Splash]