Growing up in the public eye is weird. For Selena Gomez, it wasn't just weird—it was a high-stakes family business that eventually required a messy "divorce" from her own parents. If you’ve followed her since the Wizards of Waverly Place days, you know she’s always been vocal about her roots. But the reality of Selena Gomez with mom and dad is way more complicated than the red carpet photos let on.
She was born to Mandy Teefey and Ricardo Joel Gomez in Grand Prairie, Texas, when Mandy was just 16. Honestly, they grew up together. Mandy has often said they were more like friends or "Gilmore Girls" than a traditional mother-daughter duo. They were broke—like, searching for quarters for gas money broke. That kind of shared struggle creates a bond that’s almost impossible to break, but it also creates a lot of pressure when one of you becomes a global billionaire.
The Manager Era: When Mandy and Brian Ran the Show
For years, Mandy Teefey and Selena’s stepfather, Brian Teefey, weren't just "mom and dad." They were the gatekeepers. They managed her career from the Disney days until 2014. That’s a long time to have your parents telling you what to do for work.
In 2014, Selena made the brutal call to fire them as her managers. It wasn't because they did a bad job—I mean, look at her career—but she needed to be an adult. Reports at the time said it caused a massive rift. Imagine sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner with the people you just fired. It’s awkward.
- The Professional Break: Selena wanted to move into more mature roles (think Spring Breakers).
- The Personal Toll: Mandy admitted in interviews that she was "shattered" by the professional split, even if she understood it eventually.
- Wondermind: Fast forward to the 2020s, and they tried to work together again on the mental health platform, Wondermind. But even that has been rocky. Recent reports from 2025 suggested the company faced financial hurdles, with Selena occasionally stepping in to cover payroll while remaining "out of the orbit" of the daily drama.
Who is Ricardo Joel Gomez?
While Mandy was the face of Selena's career, her biological father, Ricardo (Rick) Gomez, stayed mostly in the background. Selena’s parents split when she was five. Rick eventually remarried a woman named Sara and had more kids—Selena’s half-sister Victoria (Tori) and stepson Marcus.
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Rick's role is different. He’s the guy who took her to Hooters to watch games because "it was their thing." He’s the one who posts throwback photos on Instagram showing a proud, regular dad vibe. He didn't want the "industry life," which Selena has said she appreciates. Sometimes, you just need a parent who doesn't care about your Billboard ranking.
The 2025 Wedding Snub: A New Family Dynamic?
Things got spicy again recently. When Selena married Benny Blanco in September 2025, she made a choice that sent the tabloids into a frenzy. She didn't have Mandy walk her down the aisle. Instead, she chose her grandfather, David Cornett.
Insiders told the Daily Mail that Mandy and Brian were "heartbroken" by the move. But Selena had a reason. She reportedly wanted to give her grandfather a moment he never got with Mandy. It’s a classic Selena move: deeply personal, a bit controversial, and clearly intended to set a boundary.
Siblings and the "Next Generation"
Selena is famously obsessed with her little sister, Gracie Elliot Teefey (born to Mandy and Brian in 2013). You've seen them at the Golden Globes or on TikTok. It’s almost like Selena gets a "do-over" with Gracie, experiencing a childhood through her sister that she never really had herself because she was busy being a child star.
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Then there’s Victoria Gomez, Rick’s daughter. While they aren't as public, Selena has always maintained that family is family. The "Selena Gomez with mom and dad" dynamic has essentially evolved into two distinct family units that she navigates like a pro.
The Complexity of E-E-A-T in Celebrity Families
When we talk about celebrity families, we have to look at the power dynamics. Expert psychologists, like Dr. Lindsay Gibson (author of Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents), often note that when a child becomes the primary breadwinner, the traditional parent-child roles flip. This "parentification" is something Selena has alluded to in her documentary, My Mind & Me.
She spent years being the one everyone relied on. Moving into 2026, she seems to be prioritizing her own mental health over family expectations. That looks like:
- Setting boundaries on business ventures (like Wondermind).
- Choosing who shares her biggest milestones (the wedding).
- Publicly acknowledging the "messiness" of her relationships.
Actionable Insights for Navigating Family Tension
Whether you're a pop star or just someone dealing with a difficult Thanksgiving, there are things we can learn from Selena's journey with Mandy and Rick.
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Boundaries are not betrayals. Firing her parents was a career move, but it was also a survival move. If a relationship—professional or personal—is suffocating you, space is allowed.
Forgiveness is a process, not an event. Selena and Mandy have unfollowed and re-followed each other on Instagram more times than we can count. That’s okay. Relationships are fluid.
Build your "chosen" family. Selena’s closeness with her grandparents and her "Only Murders" co-stars shows that you can find parental figures in people who aren't your biological parents.
The saga of Selena Gomez with mom and dad isn't over. It’s just moving into a new phase where she’s finally the one holding the remote.
Next Steps for Fans and Observers:
- Watch My Mind & Me on Apple TV+ to see the raw footage of Selena and Mandy interacting during her 2016-2019 struggles.
- Follow Rick Gomez on social media for a look at the "non-Hollywood" side of her family life.
- Check the latest updates on Wondermind to see how the mother-daughter business partnership is evolving in 2026.