Look, the internet is a graveyard of forgotten celebrity collaborations, but for some reason, we can't stop digging up the one between Selena Gomez and Charlie Puth. Maybe it’s because the song they made together, "We Don't Talk Anymore," is a legitimate earworm that still plays in every CVS and airport terminal. Or maybe it’s because their "relationship"—if you can even call it that—remains one of the most awkward, one-sided chapters in modern pop history.
Honestly? It’s kind of a mess.
On one side, you have Charlie Puth, a guy who basically wears his heart on his sleeve and then writes a multi-platinum hook about it. On the other, you have Selena Gomez, a woman who has lived through the most scrutinized public breakups of our generation and seemingly viewed Charlie as a brief, professional pitstop. The disconnect between their two versions of reality is enough to give you whiplash.
The "We Don't Talk Anymore" Era: Where It All Started
In late 2015, Charlie Puth was the "See You Again" guy, and Selena Gomez was firmly in her Revival era. They met at an after-party—because that’s where all these things happen—and Charlie reportedly played her the demo for a track he was working on. Selena loved it. She didn't just love it; she recorded her vocals in a freaking closet at Charlie’s house.
That’s a real detail. A closet.
The song was an instant hit. The chemistry in the vocals felt raw and authentic. Naturally, the rumors started flying immediately. Were they dating? Were they just "musical soulmates"? For months, the answer was a cagey "we're just friends."
But then, 2018 happened.
Charlie sat down for a cover story with Billboard and basically blew the lid off the whole thing. He described their relationship as "very short-lived, very small, but very impactful." He went on to say it "really messed me up." He didn't name names directly regarding the other person involved, but he heavily implied that he was a rebound. He said it wasn't like he was the only person on her mind.
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We all knew who he was talking about. Justin Bieber.
The Great Disconnect: Two Different Realities
Here is where it gets weird. Shortly after Charlie’s "tell-all" interview, sources close to Selena Gomez told People and other outlets that the two never actually dated.
Imagine that for a second.
You have one person telling the world’s biggest music magazine that a fling "messed them up," and the other person responding with, "Wait, we were dating?" It’s the ultimate celebrity "He Said, She Said."
To be fair to Charlie, he wasn't just making it up out of thin air. They were spotted together frequently during the 2016 period. He even infamously shouted "F*** you, Justin Bieber" during a live performance of "We Don't Talk Anymore" in Dallas. You don't usually do that if you're just "casual work friends." That’s "I’m in my feelings" energy.
Why Charlie Puth Felt the Way He Did
Charlie has always been open about his process. He’s a guy with perfect pitch who hears music in the sound of a falling spoon. For him, the "vibe" is everything. He told Billboard that the only way a song like that can come across as real is if there’s something going on behind the scenes.
He felt something.
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But for Selena? She was in the middle of a chaotic, years-long saga with Bieber. She was dealing with health issues related to Lupus. She was trying to reinvent herself as a serious solo artist. To her, Charlie might have just been a fun collaborator and a supportive friend during a dark time.
It’s a classic case of misaligned expectations.
The Fallout and Resurfaced Backlash
Fast forward to 2023, and the drama didn't stay in the past. TikTok is a powerful thing. Old interviews resurfaced where Charlie talked about his song "Attention."
In those clips, he hinted that the song was about a girl who would invite him over, ask him to sleep in her bed, but then "nothing would happen." He phrased it in a way that many fans found entitled and, frankly, kind of gross.
Fans immediately linked these comments to Selena.
The backlash was swift. People pointed out that a woman wanting emotional closeness or a "sleepover" without sex isn't "manipulation"—it’s just a friendship. The narrative shifted from Charlie being the "heartbroken songwriter" to Charlie being the guy who couldn't take a hint.
Where Are They Now?
It’s 2026, and the world has moved on. Selena Gomez has finally found her "peace." She is officially married to music producer Benny Blanco. Their wedding in Santa Barbara was all over social media, and she looks genuinely happy. It feels like she’s finally closed the book on the "Bieber era" and all the collateral damage—like the Charlie Puth drama—that came with it.
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Charlie Puth is also a married man. He tied the knot with his long-time friend Brooke Sansone in 2024. He’s still making hits, still posting "How I Made This" videos on social media, and still being Charlie.
Do they talk? Probably not.
The title of their hit song turned out to be prophetic. They don't talk anymore. They don't even seem to exist in the same social circles.
What We Can Learn from the Selena and Charlie Saga
This whole situation is a masterclass in why you shouldn't mix business with "maybe-pleasure" unless both people are on the exact same page.
- Communication is king. If you think you're dating and the other person thinks you're just a "great singer who kills it in the studio," someone is going to get hurt.
- Timing matters. Entering someone's life when they are still mourning a previous relationship (the Bieber of it all) is a recipe for becoming a "short-lived but impactful" footnote.
- Art is subjective. Charlie used his pain to make a hit. Selena used her talent to help make it a hit. Both got what they needed out of the music, even if they lost a friendship in the process.
If you’re still listening to "We Don't Talk Anymore" on repeat, just remember: that breathy, emotional delivery wasn't just good acting. At least on one side of the microphone, it was very, very real.
To navigate your own relationships without the Hollywood drama, focus on clarity early on. If things feel "impactful" to you, make sure they feel the same to the other person before you start shouting things about their ex on stage.
It saves everyone a lot of awkwardness in the long run.
Check out the official credits for Nine Track Mind to see just how deep their collaboration went, or revisit Selena’s Revival tour footage to see the brief moment they shared the stage before the silence began.