Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift, from close sisters to "frenemies" Because of their love story with Selena Gomez

Neither Taylor Swift nor Selena Gomez are strangers to their drama making headlines, whether it’s due to a breakup or a public feud. But throughout their careers, they’ve never stopped publicly supporting each other. Since becoming friends while both dating Jonas brothers in 2008, they’ve danced at awards shows, performed onstage together, and most recently, hyped the other’s new music. Swift even made a surprise appearance on Gomez’s new HBO Max cooking show Selena + Chef. Even though the pandemic caused the duo to see less of each other, their friendship is still going strong.

Below, relive a celeb bond that’s built to last.

In a 2017 interview with KIIS FM UK, Gomez opened up about how she and Swift met, and it’s rooted in the early days of their careers. “We actually dated the Jonas Brothers together! It was hysterical,” Gomez told the hosts, referring to her relationship with Nick and Swift’s with Joe. “It was amazing, because she was the girl with the big curly hair and all the bracelets and the cowboy boots. And I was definitely up-and-coming, and we just clicked,” she added. “It was the best thing we got out of those relationships.”

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In September 2008, comments from Gomez indicate that they could’ve been friends even earlier than ’08. However, the two were first seen together at the premiere of the Gomez’s movie, Another Cinderella Story.JOHN SHEARER//GETTY IMAGESOctober 2009

In an interview with Seventeen, Gomez was asked who she turns to for love advice. (She was rumored to be dating Taylor Lautner months before he would briefly date Swift.) “Every single problem I ever have is healable by Taylor Swift,” she said. “If I ever I have an issue, Taylor has gone through it, because she’s older than me, and she gives the most thought-out answers. And what I love about Taylor is that she does believe in the whole love story and Prince Charming and soul mates. Because of her, I haven’t lost faith. We literally talk every day.”

January 2011

Swift and Gomez hung out at the 2011 Peoples’ Choice Awards. That night Swift was voted Favorite Country Artist, while Gomez took home the trophy for Favorite Breakout Artist.

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The following month, Swift and Gomez attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party side by side.

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The award show appearances continued at the Billboard Music Awards. Gomez attended alongside her boyfriend of six months Justin Bieber, while Swift looked on supportively.

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Swift and Gomez also hung out at the Teen Choice Awards, where the latter performed “Love You Like a Love Song.” This same month, Swift even invited Gomez’s beau Bieber to perform “Baby” onstage at her Speak Now tour.

A truly wild time was had at the American Music Awards, where Gomez and Swift hung out with future frenemies including Katy Perry and Bieber. In one photo, Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun can be seen a row back from Gomez and Swift, seemingly looming over the proceedings.

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Gomez performed her song “Who Says” with Swift at the Madison Square Garden stop of her Speak Now tour.

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The following summer brought another Teen Choice Awards outing from Swift and Gomez. Each took home trophies from the ceremony.

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Swift’s feelings on Bieber and Gomez’s on-and-off relationship have clearly changed. A video surfaced of Swift backstage at the Billboard Music Awards, sticking her tongue out in disgust as she walks by the couple kissing.

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At the 2013 VMAs, all eyes were on Miley Cyrus’s twerking performance. But Gomez and Swift each won awards for their videos of “Come & Get It” and “I Knew You Were Trouble,” respectively.

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Swift talked about why her relationship with Gomez was so special during an E! interview. “It’s been the longest one I think either of us had really,” she explained. “When your life changes, and you become thrust into this really strange whirlwind where what your life is is different from what other people think your life is. And your life is commented on and your life is written about and fictionalized and all that. Both of us have kind of stuck it out and hung in there through all the different changes we’ve gone through.” Swift added, “Longevity is something you really can find very precious and rare in friendships.”

After attending the Met Gala, Gomez shared a video of the two dancing around the museum along with the caption, “And during.. sometimes you wanna just be you with someone who knows all your secrets.”

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In honor of Swift’s 25th birthday, Gomez shared a collage of the pair on IG. She wrote, “From hotel room album listening parties, kitchen dance floor album listening parties to driving on the pch, windows down album listening parties. -The best part is we were the only ones there. Each time. So happy, honored and proud to know you and your diaries. @taylorswift #1989 BUY IT!!! -now I’ll listen live from drowning in my bed sheets.”

November 2014

During the American Music Awards, Swift gave a rousing performance of “Blank Space,” while Gomez performed her post-Bieber breakup ballad, “The Heart Wants What It Wants.”

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Gomez also posted a picture from a girls’ night with Swift, Karlie Kloss, Lorde, and members of Haim.

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In a move that would foreshadow Tom Hiddleston’s “I heart TS” shirt, Gomez celebrated Swift’s birthday with a “TS” manicure.

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Gomez and Swift attended a Golden Globes after party alongside Lorde.

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In March, Gomez shared snaps from Camila Cabello’s birthday celebration, which included Swift, Joey King, Hailee Steinfeld, and Jaime King.

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In August, Gomez performed her song “Good for You” with Swift during her 1989 tour. Gomez later captioned a photo of the pair performing, “After nearly 8 years of friendship, I just can’t wait to tell our kids we ACTUALLY got to perform in front of thousands of insanely beautiful people together. TWICE! I love you Tay. #bestnightEVER #whatISlife.”

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After appearing in the music video for “Bad Blood,” Gomez was on hand to support Swift, a squad including Kloss and Cara Delevingne in tow, for the MTV VMAs.

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Gomez shared a photo of herself and Swift hanging out with pals Gigi Hadid and Lily Aldridge on Instagram. “@taylorswift -we just show up. Thank you for making us and all beautiful women feel beautiful,” she captioned the photo.

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The following month, Gomez celebrated Swift’s birthday with a sweet throwback post on IG. “I don’t know life without you Taylor,” she wrote. “Happy birthday!”

At the start of the year, the friends had fun recreating a scene from Swift’s 1989 song, “Out of the Woods.” Gomez used Swift’s lyrics by captioning the post, “Are we in the clear yet?”

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Gomez was by Swift’s side at the 2016 Grammy Awards, where the latter won Album of the Year for 1989. In her speech, Swift seemingly referenced Kanye West’s recently released song, “Famous,” which contains the lyrics, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have 𝑠e𝑥/Why? I made that bitch famous.” Swift said while accepting, “I want to say to all the young women out there: There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame, but… someday when you get where you’re going, you’ll look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you who put you there…”

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That same month Gomez chimed in about Kanye West’s song “Famous,” telling SiriusXM’s “The Morning Mash Up” about Swift, “She’s killing it, and she kind of always has been.”

Next up, the friends attended the iHeartRadio Music Awards together, where each won awards.

Swift was spotted with then-boyfriend Hiddleston at the Nashville stop of Gomez’s Revival tour.

When Kim Kardashian posted a recording of Swift to Snapchat, which seemingly shows her approving West’s lyrics about her in “Famous,” Gomez fired off a series of tweets in defense of her friend.

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In 2017, Gomez and Swift’s friendship was kept pretty quiet, other than eagle-eyed fans spotting a Swift easter egg in an episode of 13 Reasons Why, which Gomez produces. She also can be seen in Gomez’s “Bad Liar” music video.

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But at the end of the year, Gomez publicly honored Swift’s 28th birthday with a small video and touching caption. “I’m glad you were born,” she wrote on Instagram. “You write all the thoughts some aren’t able to articulate. (ME!) Thank you for giving a voice to this world that is authentic and inspiring. I wish some knew how big your heart actually is.. it’s fierce, bold and freaking wild with light. I’m glad you protect that. Love you @taylorswift.”

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Fans later pointed out that Gomez had inadvertently placed an Easter egg for Swift’s first single off of Lover in her caption.

May 2018

At the Rose Bowl stop of Swift’s reputation tour, the duo performed “Hands to Myself.” Swift later wrote about the moment on Instagram, “To the person I could call at any time of day, who has been there no matter what… you absolutely KILLED IT tonight and everyone was so excited to see you. I love you, and 60,000 people at the Rose Bowl loved you too.”

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After the performance Gomez gave a moving speech about her friendship with Swift to the thousands in attendance:

“Are you guys having a good night? I have to say thank you to my best friend of about 12 years, almost 13, and the reason why she has been one of my best friends is because this person has never ever judged a single decision I’ve made. She’s always met me where I’ve been. She’s encouraged me when I’ve had nothing to be encouraged about, and I don’t know if I would be as strong as I am if I didn’t have you and your family because you’ve changed my life. And—she’s going to kill me after—but honestly, thank you for the bottom of my heart for supporting someone who I know is the most beautiful, strong, independent woman I’ve ever met. So thank you as a best friend.”This content is imported from instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Gomez captioned pictures from the evening, “I’m grateful for those I surround myself with. And this woman right here happens to be one of my favorites. Love our tradition and I love you.”

Gomez supported Swift’s album Reputation once more by wearing some tour merch while skiing with friends.

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January 2019

At the start of the year, Swift and Gomez seemingly welcomed another friend into their circle, Cazzie David. “20wineteen,” Swift captioned a blurry photo of the trio drinking white wine.

A source told E! at the time that Gomez “really leans on Taylor and considers her one of her best friends,” particularly in the aftermath of her treatment for her mental health.

“Selena and Taylor have been in touch since Selena left her treatment and are very close,” the source added. “Taylor has reached out several times and has shown her support and love.” The two are in a “really good place” and remain close despite consistent travel for work.

July 2019

Then came Swift’s drama with Scooter Braun, Bieber’s manager, who acquired the rights to her music catalog (first six albums’ masters) from Big Machine Label with his purchase of the record company. Swift penned an open letter, calling the situation the “worst case scenario.” Then Bieber posted his own response. In turn, Swift took to Tumblr to seemingly confirm that Bieber had cheated on Gomez.

She liked a Tumblr post that said, “‘we haven’t gotten to communicate our differences’ you cheated on her best friend and then publicly sided with the man who made revenge porn against her was she supposed to invite you over for tea??? Fuck outta here.”

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When Swift released her latest album Lover, Gomez was ready to sing her praises. “You’re just.. unreal dude,” she wrote on her Instagram stories over a photo of the song “Lover.” Swift reposted the photo adding, “I LOVE YOU SELENA.”

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After the late October release of Gomez’s new single “Lose You to Love Me,” Swift praised the song on Instagram. “This song is a perfect expression of healing and my absolute favorite song she’s put out yet. A triumph,” Swift wrote on her stories, which Gomez posted to her own.

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