Selena Gomez is often regarded as a sweetheart—the "classy" alternative to fellow Disney exports such as Miley Cyrus, but don't be fooled by the saccharine starlet. She has plenty of shade surrounding her, too.
She exploited her relationship with Justin Bieber
Gomez often claimed to want to keep her on-again-off-again relationship with Justin Bieber under wraps, yet she often publicized their romance and their breakups (of which there were many) when it suited her. In March 2013, Gomez and her pals practiced an entire choreographed routine to the song "Everybody Knows," featuring a Bieber-lookalike she affectionately referred to as a "douchebag." She also mocked Bieber in an interview with late night host David Letterman, boasting that she made the boy wonder cry. For all of her smack-talking, she repeatedly reunited with the "Boyfriend" singer and even included a voicemail from Biebs in her song "Love Will Remember" on her Stars Dance album. Really discreet stuff.
In July 2015, when Gomez was promoting Revival, an insider dished to Celeb Dirty Laundry that her motives weren't lost on Bieber. "Justin has always felt like he gave Selena a boost in her career here and there, because of all the press they get when they are together. He is starting to feel a little used because Selena has made it very clear she doesn't want to be with him—but keeps trying to make plans with him in public places," the source said. "It's not a coincidence that she is promoting her new album."
She lashed out at Bieber after he moved on from her
In August 2016, Bieber posted a few selfies with his blink-and-you'll-miss-it girlfriend, model Sofia Richie, leading many to believe that he and Gomez had both moved on from one another for good. After his Beliebers spammed those selfies with hateful comments about Richie, an understandably frustrated Bieber threatened to make his Instagram private.
Gomez then commented, "If you can't handle the hate then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol—it should be special between you two only. Don't be mad at your fans. They love you."
Bieber responded, "It's funny to see people that used me for attention and still try to point the finger this way. Sad. All love. I'm not one for anyone receiving hate. Hope u all can be kind to my friends and each other. And yes I love my beliebers." He got so frustrated that he temporarily quit Instagram.
Gomez retorted in another comment, "Funny how the ones that cheated multiple times are pointing the finger at the ones that were forgiving and supportive, no wonder fans are mad. Sad. All love." She later apologized on Snapchat, writing, "What I said was selfish and pointless." No kidding.
She may have hooked up with Orlando Bloom while he was dating Katy Perry
In May 2016, just days after a rumored romance between Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry made headlines at the Met Gala, the actor was spotted getting very cozy with Gomez at a nightclub. The plot thickened when photos surfaced of Bloom and Gomez leaving the same club in the same car.
For the record, Gomez and Perry denied anything went down, and sources told TMZ Gomez went back to her hotel room alone on at least one of the nights she was seen with Bloom.