Wait, did that actually happen? It feels like a fever dream now, but there was a window in 2023 where the internet collectively lost its mind over Selena Gomez and Zayn Malik. One minute we’re scrolling through TikTok, and the next, a hostess at a swanky Manhattan restaurant is claiming she saw the "Wolves" singer and the former One Direction heartthrob basically eating each other’s faces over dinner.
It was messy. It was glamorous. It was... surprisingly brief.
Fast forward to early 2026, and Selena is officially engaged to Benny Blanco. Zayn is busy re-registering his business interests with the One Direction guys, sending reunion rumors into a stratosphere we haven't seen since 2015. But that "Zelena" era—if we can even call it that—remains one of the most fascinating "what ifs" in modern pop culture history. Honestly, looking back at the receipts, the whole thing was a masterclass in how celebrity rumors catch fire and then just sort of evaporate into the ether.
The Night in SoHo That Started It All
It all kicked off in March 2023. A TikTok user named Klarissa Garcia posted a video that went nuclear. She shared a screenshot of a text from her friend, a hostess at an unnamed New York City hotspot, who claimed Selena and Zayn walked in hand-in-hand.
They weren't just eating pasta. According to the witness, they were "making out" right there in the middle of the restaurant.
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Most people don't realize how rare that is for stars of their caliber. Usually, these two are the masters of the "private exit" or the "separate cars" maneuver. If they were kissing in public, they wanted to be seen. Or they just didn't care anymore.
Before the dinner, eagle-eyed fans noticed Zayn had followed Selena on Instagram. That might sound like nothing to a normal person, but at the time, Zayn only followed 18 people. Selena was one of them. It was a digital "soft launch" that had everyone convinced a power couple was forming.
Why the Pairing Made Total Sense
- The 2013 Connection: In an old red carpet clip that fans dug up, a young Selena was asked which member of One Direction she’d want to kiss. Her answer? Zayn. No hesitation.
- The Taylor Swift Factor: Taylor is Selena’s best friend. Taylor also collaborated with Zayn on "I Don't Wanna Live Forever." They’ve been in the same circles for over a decade.
- The "Ex" Drama: Both had recently come out of massive, era-defining relationships (Justin Bieber and Gigi Hadid, respectively). They both knew the pressure of a public breakup.
The Clout Theory and the Unfollowing Spree
By June 2023, the vibe shifted. Hard.
Selena posted a TikTok of herself at a soccer game, screaming "I'm single!" at the players. It was funny, but it was also a loud-and-clear message: the Zayn thing was over. Or maybe it never really "started" in the way we thought.
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Then came the "Great Unfollowing of 2023." Selena suddenly unfollowed Zayn, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, and Zendaya.
Naturally, the internet spiraled. People started claiming Zayn had "used" Selena to drum up hype for his comeback music. There were theories that he followed her during her public drama with Hailey Bieber just to catch the reflected spotlight. Some fans pointed to Selena’s cryptic TikTok about being attracted to "unavailable men" as a dig at Zayn’s complicated co-parenting life with the Hadids.
But a source told People at the time that there were "absolutely no hard feelings." Sometimes, a social media cleanse is just a social media cleanse. Or maybe, just maybe, the spark fizzled because their lives were moving in opposite directions.
Where They Are Now (2026 Update)
If you’re looking for a romantic reunion, don't hold your breath.
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Selena Gomez is in a completely different chapter. Since mid-2023, she has been in a very public, very happy relationship with producer Benny Blanco. They announced their engagement in December 2024, and by all accounts, she’s never been more settled. She’s moved past the "mysterious musician" phase and into something that feels way more stable.
Zayn Malik, meanwhile, has stayed mostly low-key until recently. His return as an active director of PPM Music Limited in late 2025—alongside Harry, Niall, and Louis—has basically broken the music industry. He’s focused on the One Direction legacy and his daughter, Khai.
What We Can Learn From the "Zelena" Rumors
- Don't trust the "Follow": A follow on Instagram is often a business move or a momentary whim, not a marriage proposal.
- The "Hostess" Effect: In the age of TikTok, a celebrity can't even have a quiet dinner without it becoming a global news cycle within 40 minutes.
- Short-lived doesn't mean "fake": It’s entirely possible they had a few great dates and realized they weren't a long-term match. In Hollywood, that's actually a pretty healthy outcome.
If you’re still mourning the couple that never quite was, the best thing to do is go back and listen to their discographies. Both artists have used their personal lives to fuel some of the best pop music of the last ten years. While we probably won't get a collaboration or a wedding, we did get a few weeks of absolute chaos that reminded us why we love celebrity culture in the first place.
Keep an eye on Zayn's upcoming business filings and Selena's wedding planning—both are set to dominate the headlines for the rest of 2026.