A recent claim suggests that Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco got engaged back in August, but delayed publicly announcing the news due to concerns involving Justin Bieber.

On December 12, Selena Gomez officially revealed her engagement to Benny Blanco in a heartfelt Instagram post. The announcement featured four images: the first showcasing her hand adorned with the engagement ring, the second depicting her sitting on a rug in a garden admiring the ring, the third a smiling selfie where she holds up her hand, and the fourth showing her in Blanco’s embrace as he kisses her on the side of her head while she beams at the camera. Her caption read: “Forever begins now..”

However, according to a source, the engagement itself actually happened months ago. The alleged insider shared with Mail Online that Gomez and Blanco became engaged in August, but the couple chose to delay sharing the news with the public.

The reason for the wait? While celebrities aren’t obligated to immediately disclose personal milestones, the source claims Gomez was cautious about timing due to the birth of Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber’s first child in August. Gomez reportedly wanted to avoid any connection between her engagement and Bieber’s family announcement. The insider noted she feared that some might accuse her of trying to overshadow Justin’s news or imply she timed the engagement announcement to steal attention.

Representatives for Gomez have not confirmed these claims, but the decision to postpone the announcement out of concern for public perception aligns with Gomez’s past remarks about the harmful effects of online trolling.

Speculation about lingering tension between Gomez and the Biebers has been perpetuated by social media users for years, despite all parties moving on with their lives. The animosity has, at times, spiraled into targeted harassment. In response to hateful comments directed at the Biebers, Gomez addressed the issue on TikTok, urging kindness: “Please be kind and consider others’ mental health. My heart has been heavy, and I only want good for everyone. All my love.”

Hailey Bieber also spoke out following intense trolling against her, emphasizing her disapproval of the behavior: “If you’re leaving mean or rude comments on my behalf on anyone’s posts, just know that I don’t want that, nor do I ever or will I ever support or condone hateful, mean, or nasty comments. Doing that is not supporting me. If you are participating in that you are a part of a culture that I want no part of. Please be nice or don’t say anything.”

While Gomez’s engagement marks a joyful chapter in her life, the choice to delay sharing the news highlights the complexities of navigating personal milestones under public scrutiny and the importance of maintaining mental well-being amid social media pressures.