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Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have been together for about a year and a half. They got engaged in December 2024. When they first got together, there were a lot of side eyes thrown their way. One or two of them came from me. But now, after getting to know who Benny really is and seeing the pure happiness that Selena wears every day, they’re kinda becoming one of my favorite celeb couples. I guess it’s a lesson in not judging a book by its cover. Plus, the man is super talented. He’s really, really good at his job.
This week, Selena and Benny did a joint appearance on the podcast, Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware. We’ve always known that they had been friends and coworkers for a decade before they finally got together. They shed some new light on their relationship, including sharing some never-before-known details about how it started. One of the many stories they told on the pod was about their first kiss, which happened on their second date. Selena was so taken by their “very good” first kiss that she got a rash on her face! In fact, it even happened twice!
“We were hanging on our second date, towards the end of the date, we were sitting in the living room, on the couch and we were playing ‘We’re not really strangers,’ ” Blanco said. “And there was a thing where it said, ‘Take a selfie with the person next to you,’ and we were already kind of lounging and she got right on my chest and took a selfie and then right after I just looked at her and I said, ‘I got to kiss this girl.’ ”
“And I kissed her right away,” the music producer continued.
Asked if it was a good kiss, Gomez added, “It was a very good kiss.”
“Right away, her heart started beating quickly, she started getting a rash on her face and she was so nervous,” Blanco said.
Gomez then shared that she “hadn’t liked anyone in a very long time, so some kisses are for fun and then when you feel something behind the kiss it’s completely different.”
“I had been alone for about five years with the exception of a few s—– dates here and there, but never felt that way,” she continued. “And I was a little embarrassed, but he was like, ‘Are you okay?’ And I was like, ‘No, no, I’m fine.’ I didn’t want to be like, ‘I like you, I really like you.’ ”
Blanco went on to reveal that while the reaction happened again, everything “felt so natural” when they were hanging out from that moment on.
The couple, who confirmed their relationship in December 2023, went on to announce their engagement in December 2024. “Forever begins now..” Gomez wrote alongside shots of her diamond ring.
The pair first met in 2013 through Gomez’s mom, Mandy Teefey, before collaborating on music. Blanco went on to co-produce the songs “Kill Em With Kindness” and “Same Old Love” on Gomez’s 2015 album, Revival.
OMG, this is so adorable and so relatable! I’ve never gotten a rash like that, but I know that flush feeling she felt. She must have liked him so much. You know it’s right when everything feels so natural, like it just clicks. After they told the story, one of the hosts joked that Selena needed “Benny-dryl” to help cure her rash, which made me chuckle. Selena also revealed that she asked her grandma for help making her southern chicken and dumplings recipe so she could make it for Benny to help win him over.
I really like that they were friends first. It puts the quick engagement into a context that makes a lot more sense. Their chemistry is pretty evident throughout the episode, too. In addition to their first kiss, they also talk about their first date. Benny didn’t even realize that it was a date! Selena suggested they hang out, so they got a drink at a wine bar before hitting up a birthday party. He didn’t even put together that it was a date until she brought it up. That’s too funny. Once again, I take back every side-eye I ever threw at them. They are truly adorable together.
photos credit: T.Jackson/Santi Ramales/Backgrid, Getty and via Instagram
They are cute. It’s nice to see a truly happy couple!!
They’re really cute. For all the focus on his appearance, every time I see a video of him I always come away thinking he’s adorable. Like, he seems like a really good-natured, gentle soul but I genuinely find him attractive too.
I love them. You can definitely feel their love for each other. Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I think Benny has a pretty face. It is his hair making him look disheveled. He needs a good haircut complementing his face. But, it is obvious Selena loves him regardless.
God was trying to tell you something….
I def thought the article was going to be about a beard rash. I dated a guy gave me one, and it was annoying.
Selena and Benny seem great together. I hope they start to share less about their relationship once the album promo is done. I worry about couples that start oversharing.
I’ve had partners who would not be considered attractive to some people, or the status quo, whatever that is. What they had was charisma, intelligence and a whole lot of other things that made me fall for them.
He sounds totally lovely and I read the interview link in the post. Wow, he sounds GREAT!
I thought the rash was going to be from kissing (facial stubble etc) which in Australia is hilariously referred to as ‘pash rash’.
My ex husband.
I remember people side eye when we first got together, because he wasn’t tall, or super hot, or whatever. But you know what he was ?
Nice, and polite, and kind, and respectful. He believed in me more than I did. He gave me confidence, and safety. Eventually the relationship run its course and ended.
And I remember me saying that those who side eyed us in the end were right. He replied to me “we’ve been happy for 10 years, they were wrong”. Some men are like this.
And for me the bar is pretty high because I will never compromise for something less.
I have listened Benny talking, and he seems a respectful guy who elevates her.
I also listened to Selena, and she talks about feeling safe with him. This is beautiful 🙂
The really handsome guys I went out with always turned out to be self-involved, almost like “girl you’re so lucky I’m with you because I’m one good-lookin’ dude” but they weren’t affectionate, emotionally mature, not very giving. The men I really fell for (including Mr. Jaded) weren’t movie star handsome but they knew how to be friends, open with their feelings, kind, attentive and caring. Benny is one of those guys.
I’m obsessed with them. I dont think people realize just how talented he is. He’s responsible for like half the #1s of the 2000s. He’s like a good JayZ. As soon as I heard they were together I was like this is good for her, but the more I saw of him (I immediately followed his insta) I realized how serious this could be.
I don’t worry about this album being so much about their love story. I don’t want it to become a commodity. I wish them nothing but happiness. And I want him to be less self deprecating. They are very sweet
He is just devoted to her. And yes, she is wearing her happiness very well. Yeah, I like them. They are very endearing.
At my age, i’ve learned that what’s in the heart is what is most important and they both seem like very good people. I thought he was so charming on AD open door. His big green flower pattern velvet couch to me is absolutely WOW! Them them together.