Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco recently shared a light-hearted but embarrassing moment from their relationship: showing up way too early to one of Taylor Swift’s famous afterparties.
During a chat on Spotify’s "Countdown To" podcast, the couple reflected on their mistimed arrival at Swift’s post-award show gathering. Gomez admitted she was excited to bring Blanco along but quickly realised they had made a major party faux pas.
“I don’t know, it was kind of cute, but I was mortified,” she confessed. “Apparently, cool people don’t show up to parties on time.”
The couple recalls their cringeworthy party blunder while keeping their romance under wrapsGetty Images
Blanco didn’t miss the opportunity to tease his fiancée about her punctuality. “We’re the first people at every single party when I go with you,” he laughed. “You show up when my mom shows up to a party.”
Adding to the awkwardness, the couple was keeping their relationship under wraps at the time. Blanco recalled how they avoided public displays of affection to keep their romance a secret. “We didn’t even, like, touch each other or really look at each other,” he said. Yet, Gomez didn’t seem thrilled when other women unknowingly flirted with him.
“If a girl came up to me or something, you were like, ‘Hmm,’” Blanco joked. Gomez quickly denied the claim with a laugh, telling him to stop exaggerating.
From secret dates to Swiftie status—how Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez’s love story unfoldedGetty Images
The exact party remains a mystery, but by December 2023, their relationship was no longer a secret. They were spotted together in New York celebrating Swift’s birthday, confirming months of speculation. Their romance eventually led to an engagement announcement, with Swift even volunteering to be their "flower girl."
Blanco also revealed that dating Gomez turned him into a full-fledged Swiftie. “I was aware of Taylor’s music before we started dating, but I wasn’t a true Swiftie until I was with Selena,” he admitted on "Hot Ones." Now, he regularly asks Gomez to play old Swift songs while they’re driving.
As the couple prepares to drop their collaborative album "I Said I Love You First," Gomez has credited Blanco with reigniting her love for music. She previously struggled with her artistic direction but found inspiration through their partnership. “It was different from any process I’ve been through before,” she said, talking about how their creative bond deepened both their relationship and her music.
Their album, featuring tracks like "Sunset Blvd" and "Scared of Loving You," is set to release this Friday, marking a new chapter for the duo both personally and professionally.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.