Hailey Bieber has once again found herself at the center of internet drama after her recent Wall Street Journal interview promoting Rhode Beauty appeared to throw subtle jab at Selena Gomez.
In the feature, the beauty mogul spoke about being “constantly compared” to other women and said, “I think there’s space for everybody. I don’t feel competitive with people that I’m not inspired by.” The quote instantly went viral, with fans interpreting it as a not-so-veiled comment toward Gomez — especially since their beauty brands, Rhode and Rare Beauty, currently share shelf space at Sephora.
In response, Gomez posted a short but pointed Instagram Story — later deleted — that read, “Leave the girl alone. She can say whatever she wants. Doesn’t affect my life whatsoever. It’s just about relevance, not intelligence. Be kind. All brands inspire me. There’s room for everyone.” Her reaction, while calm on the surface, reignited years of online rivalry between the two stars. And true enough, their war of words quickly set the internet ablaze.
The tension between the two traces back more than a decade — to Justin Bieber’s long on-again, off-again relationship with Gomez, and his whirlwind 2018 marriage to Hailey. Despite moments of peace, including their viral 2022 event photo together, the so-called “Selena vs. Hailey” narrative just won’t die. This latest flare-up, in particular, seems more clear cut than the usual vague disses between the women, once more fanning flames to their longstanding animosity.