On or about the weekend of September 27–28, 2025, Mr. Justin Bieber, aged thirty-one (31), was subjected to disparaging commentary and derisive conduct by various social media users contemporaneous with the nuptial ceremony of his former partner, Ms. Selena Gomez, who entered into matrimony with Mr. Benny Blanco during a private event held in Santa Barbara, California.
Mr. Bieber, who is presently married to Mrs. Hailey Bieber and is the father of one child, published on his verified Instagram account a series of posts relating to a basketball match in Los Angeles occurring one day prior to said ceremony. In response, multiple commentators utilized his social media platform to reference Ms. Gomez’s marriage, frequently by way of GIFs, innuendo, or direct statements suggesting emotional distress on his part.
Examples of such commentary included: “the love of your life got married” and “we just know you’re hurting rn,” as well as observations regarding the perceived irony of his newly released track entitled I Do being used in his post on the same day as Ms. Gomez’s nuptials. Certain users further implied that the timing of his publication was deliberate, thereby exacerbating the volume of hostile commentary.
Conversely, a segment of the public defended Mr. Bieber, noting that he retains the same rights of self-expression and social media usage as any other individual, with comments including: “he’s allowed to post on his Instagram… that’s literally what Instagram is for.”
By way of background, Mr. Bieber and Ms. Gomez maintained an intermittent romantic relationship between 2010 and 2018, with several public reconciliations and subsequent separations during said period. In 2018, Mr. Bieber entered into matrimony with Hailey Baldwin (now Mrs. Hailey Bieber). The couple welcomed their first child in August 2024.
Meanwhile, Ms. Gomez and Mr. Blanco, who have been professional acquaintances for many years, confirmed their romantic relationship in late 2023, and in December of that year announced their engagement. Their marriage ceremony was attended by numerous high-profile individuals, including Ms. Taylor Swift, Mr. Steve Martin, Mr. Martin Short, and Mr. Eric André. Reports further indicate that approximately $300,000 was expended on security measures to preserve the privacy and safety of the event.
In the days preceding the wedding, Mr. Bieber’s mother, Ms. Pattie Mallette, issued a religiously inspired statement on social media requesting prayers and invoking blessings of protection, strength, and healing over her son. This post itself became a subject of speculation among commentators, some of whom sought to connect it to Ms. Gomez’s forthcoming wedding.#newsafro_
