Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have been trending lately for their unsuspecting relationship, which officially kicked off in 2023.
The pair go way back as friends and co-collaborators, with Benny Blanco producing her 2015 hits, “Same Old Love” and “Kill ‘Em With Kindness.” While they kept their relationship strictly professional for many years, things changed when the pair started spending more and more time together outside of the recording studio.
Yet it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing at first. In fact, according to the music producer, he was under the impression that Gomez didn’t like him at all, initially. When speaking on Jay Schetty’s podcast to discuss their relationship, Blanco revealed how Gomez seemed rather standoffish and uninterested in his company early on in their interactions.
Why Benny Blanco Thought Selena Gomez Didn’t Like Him At First
Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez got real with fans about their rocky beginnings.
“I thought she hated me,” Blanco revealed on Shetty’s podcast. “I really did. Like, I would see her, and I’d be like… ‘does she not like me?’” In fact, it got to the point where his friends started to pick up on her “weird” treatment of him.
But according to the former Wizards of Waverly Place star, this was simply because she had her guard up. The “Come and Get It” songstress explained that despite developing a crush on the music producer, she’d basically do the exact opposite of what you’re supposed to do when you’re trying to win someone over.
This included Gomez sending Blanco a series of her “ugliest” selfies. Yet as she explains, this was all an act of self protection from getting hurt, following her heartbreaking split from Justin Beiber. “I was always cautious because I always wanted to make sure I protected myself,” the “Same Old Love” singer explains. “So to be honest, I didn’t talk to him very often.”
As a result of this unspoken friction, Blanco tried to ease the tension by setting her up on a date with his friend. But little did he know the pop star was slowly developing feelings for him underneath the surface.
Their First Kiss Happened During a Card Game
It started with a kiss, and ended with an allergic reaction. At least, according to Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, the songstress was so nervous during her first lip-lock with the music producer, that she broke out into a face rash right after. (A tale as old as time.)
According to the star-studded pair, it all kicked off while the two were playing a card game. One of the cards had a demand for the players to follow, which said, “Take a selfie with the person next to you.” When the “I Said I Love You First” singer leaned on Blanco’s chest to prepare for the selfie pic, Blanco felt it was the right moment to pursue Gomez. “And then right after, I just looked at her, and I said, ‘I got to kiss this girl,’ and I kissed her right away and her heart started beating so quickly, and she started getting a rash on her face, and she was so nervous,” the music mogul revealed on the Table Manners Podcast.
According to Gomez, this reaction was simply the result of being nervous and overwhelmed. “I hadn’t liked anyone in a very long time,” she said. “So some kisses are for fun, and then when you feel something behind a kiss, it’s completely different.” The “How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten” singer continued, saying, “And I’d been alone for about five years, with the exception of a few s****y dates here and there, but never felt that way, and I was a little embarrassed.”
Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez Surprised Fans With Joint Album, ‘I Said I Love You First’
In March of 2025, fans of the famous couple were thrilled to learn the pair collaborated on an album, titled “I Said I Love You First.” The title is in reference to the fact that Gomez was the first to profess her feelings for Blanco. According to the celebs, it all happened when Gomez had to have surgery, and she was on anesthesia. She kept saying “I love you,” to Benny over and over again. Aww!
Which projects from Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are you most looking forward to next?
Simone Torn is a pop culture writer with 10 years of experience. She has written for several entertainment magazines such as Nicki Swift, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Dexerto, and more.
Source:https://themusicessentials.com/entertainment/benny-blanco-thought-selena-gomez-hated-him/