Some Hollywood romances feel like they were written by a PR team in a windowless office. Others feel like a fever dream. The brief, intense, and ultimately explosive relationship between Las Vegas illusionist Criss Angel and Mexican pop icon Belinda definitely falls into the latter category.
It was 2016. Social media was peak "Instagram aesthetic." Criss Angel was the undisputed king of the Strip, and Belinda was the "Princess of Latin Pop" with a fanbase so loyal they’d follow her into a desert. Which is, funnily enough, exactly where this story goes.
The two met when Belinda attended one of Criss’s Mindfreak shows in Las Vegas. Chemistry? It was instant. Within weeks, the paparazzi caught them lounging on a luxury yacht in Cabo San Lucas. It cost 4,000 dollars a day. That’s a lot of money for a vacation with someone you just met, but that was the vibe. They weren't hiding.
The "Beli" Tattoo and the Honeymoon Phase
You know a celebrity relationship is serious—or at least impulsive—when the ink comes out. Criss didn't just buy her flowers. He got "Beli" tattooed right over his heart on his chest. Honestly, at the time, it seemed like the ultimate romantic gesture.
They were everywhere together. Criss even featured her in his A&E special Trick’d Up. There’s this famous clip where he tries to "crush an apple with his mind" while Belinda watches, and they’re flirting like teenagers. He even did the "Sapito" dance at one of her concerts to prove his devotion. If you know anything about Belinda, you know "El Sapito" is the childhood song she famously grew to resent being asked to perform. Seeing the dark, brooding Mindfreak magician doing a goofy kids' dance was... a choice.
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But behind the scenes, things weren't as magical as a levitation act.
Why the Magic Faded
By mid-2017, the illusion had shattered. Usually, when celebs break up, you get a polite "we remain the best of friends" statement. Not here. This was a scorched-earth situation.
Belinda went first, tweeting in September 2017 that she was single and happy with her family. Simple. Clean. Criss, however, chose a different path. He didn't just confirm the split; he went on a digital tirade. He posted a cryptic, biting message about a "narcissist" who used him and warned others to be careful.
"Don’t listen to your heart. Listen to your gut. It never lies. Hope you’re as good an actress as you are a master of deceit," he wrote.
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Ouch.
The rumors started flying immediately. Some tabloids in Mexico accused Criss of cheating, which he vehemently denied, even threatening legal action for "fake news." Others suggested the rift was about money or the production of a music video called "Bailalo" that they had worked on together. That video, directed by Criss and starring Belinda, became a legendary "lost" project because it was tied up in legal and personal drama for years.
Life After the Mindfreak
Watching how both parties moved on tells you a lot about their "true character"—a phrase Criss himself used during the breakup.
- Criss Angel eventually went back to his long-time partner, Shaunyl Benson. They’ve had a massive journey together, especially dealing with their son’s battle with cancer. Interestingly, the "Beli" tattoo didn't stay forever. By 2021, fans noticed the ink had been covered up or removed, replaced by the word "God."
- Belinda moved on to other high-profile romances, most notably with Christian Nodal. That one also ended in a mess of deleted Instagram photos and public jabs, proving that Belinda’s love life is essentially a high-stakes telenovela that we’re all just watching.
So, what’s the takeaway here?
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The Criss Angel and Belinda saga is a textbook example of what happens when two massive egos and two different cultures collide under the pressure of Las Vegas lights. It was fast, it was expensive, and it left a mark—literally.
If you’re looking for a lesson in all this, it’s probably pretty simple: maybe wait more than six months before tattooing someone’s name on your chest. And if you do, make sure you have a really good dermatologist on speed dial for the laser removal.
For those following the current status of these stars, Criss continues to dominate the Vegas magic scene while Belinda remains a powerhouse in the Latin music world. They are two gravity-defying forces that were never meant to stay in the same orbit for long.
If you want to understand the modern celebrity breakup, look no further than their 2017 Twitter feeds. It was the blueprint for the "unfollow and shade" era we live in now.
To stay updated on these performers today, you can check out Criss Angel's latest residency dates in Vegas or follow Belinda's newest musical collaborations, which have shifted far away from the "Sapito" days of the past. Success is the best revenge, but a covered-up tattoo is a close second.