Justin Bieber was 'stung' by news of ex-GF Selena Gomez's engagement to Benny Blanco, sources claim

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Justin Bieber is wishing nothing but happiness for his ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, following her engagement to music producer Benny Blanco. However, sources close to the singer reveal that the announcement didn’t come without a bittersweet sting. 

The duo — once one of Hollywood’s most iconic on-again, off-again couples — shared nearly a decade of history before finally going their separate ways in 2018. Now, with Justin as a husband and father, and Selena as a bride-to-be—there’s a palpable sense of finality.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez: The end of an era

Selena Gomez announced her engagement to Benny Blanco on Instagram, sharing stunning snaps of her marquise-cut diamond ring and a joyful "yes" moment.

The photo featured a beaming Selena, her diamond ring front and center, alongside her fiance Benny. "Forever begins now…," the former Disney Channel star wrote in the caption.

Insiders say Justin, who’s happily married to Hailey Bieber and is a new father to their son, Jack Blues Bieber, was "stung" upon hearing the news nonetheless.

"Justin is married and has a kid, we all know that," a source told Daily Mail. "But when he heard that Selena was engaged, he’ll even admit, it stung for a brief second. Even though they will never be friends or date again or anything like that, it is officially the end of an era."

For the 'Yummy' singer, Selena’s engagement is more than just a headline—it’s a reminder of their shared past. "His past is so connected with Selena, and now that she is engaged, he is married, and a father, it’s a bit of a shock to the system," the tipster added.

Justin and Selena’s story began back in 2009 when sparks flew during a performance of 'One Less Lonely Girl' on Dick Clark's 'New Year’s Rockin’ Eve'. The pair denied romance rumors for much of 2010, with Selena famously calling Justin her "little brother." But by the end of that year, the duo was inseparable on red carpets.

The years that followed were marked by highs, lows, and a lot of headline-grabbing drama.

In 2014, Selena reportedly discovered incriminating texts and photos from Kylie Jenner on Justin’s phone, leading to one of their many breakups. Although the pair reunited briefly, the relationship remained unstable.

By 2017, the two were spotted together again, attending church services and enjoying bike rides. But by March 2018, it was officially over.

Just six months later, the 'Baby' hitmaker surprised fans by tying the knot with Hailey — signaling the definitive end of "Jelena."

Now 30, Justin is fully immersed in his role as a husband and father. While Selena's engagement stirred up old memories, sources say he is focused on the future.

"His past is so connected with Selena, and now that she is engaged, he is married and a father, it's a bit of a shock to the system that everyone is getting older," an insider said.

They added, "Justin is only 30, but he has lived a life, and an important part of his past is now officially moved on just as much as he has moved on. He won't be stressing much about it and hopes that she is well and happy at the end of the day."

Putting rumors of Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez's feud to rest 

For years, fans of "Jelena" have clung to the idea of a reunion and fueled rumors of a feud between Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez.

With Selena’s engagement, Justin hopes this chapter can finally be put to rest.

"He hopes this will finally get fans to stop stanning for that relationship. It’s been over, and now this should put the nail in the coffin," the tipster shared. 

Interestingly, Hailey herself seemed to echo that sentiment when she liked Selena's Instagram post announcing the engagement.

The rumored tension between Hailey and Selena has been heavily scrutinized, but the Rhode Skin founder has consistently dismissed the drama.

In a 2023 interview with Bloomberg’s The Circuit, Hailey addressed the ongoing chatter and blamed "made-up narratives" that only serve to divide.

"There's narratives that exist for me that really hurt my feelings and make me really upset," she asserted at the time. 

Hailey continued, "I don’t think this is about me, Hailey Bieber, and Selena Gomez. This is not about this pitting between two women - it's about the vile, disgusting hatred that can come from completely made-up and twisted, and perpetuated narratives, that can be really dangerous."

"I don't like this whole idea of team this person and team this person - I want to be able to bring people together and I think that it was a really important moment for people to see that you can do that and it doesn't have to be about this divisive nature," she noted. 

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco: A decade in the making

Selena Gomez's relationship with Benny Blanco has been a long time in the making.

The pair started as friends over a decade ago, collaborating on music before their romance blossomed in mid-2023.

Selena confirmed the relationship via Instagram in December of that year, calling Benny her "absolute everything."

The musical producer and songwriter, who has worked with the likes of Katy Perry ('Teenage Dream'), Ed Sheeran ('Castle on the Hill'), and even Justin ('Love Yourself'), was also instrumental in some of Selena's biggest hits, including 2015’s 'Same Old Love' and 2021's 'I Can’t Get Enough'.