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Justin Bieber’s recent Instagram activity has sparked speculation among fans that he may have subtly thrown shade at ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez following her engagement to music producer Benny Blanco.
On Wednesday, the 31-year-old singer posted a meme to his Instagram Story featuring Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, gazing at a gold ring with an intense expression. The meme was captioned, “Girls on social media when they get engaged,” a line that many interpreted as a pointed reference to Gomez’s recent announcement.
Back in December 2024, Selena Gomez, 32, publicly revealed that she was engaged to Blanco. She debuted her engagement ring—a marquise-cut diamond designed in collaboration with jewelry artist Abril Barret—as a symbol of their relationship. The couple also worked together musically, having released an album titled I Said I Loved You First, which fans believe contains lyrics referencing Gomez’s complicated history with Bieber.
Gomez and Bieber were romantically linked for nearly eight years in a turbulent on-again, off-again relationship that ended for good in 2018. Later that year, Bieber married model Hailey Baldwin, and the couple welcomed their son, Jack Blues Bieber, in August 2024.
Despite moving forward, rumors of tension within the Bieber household have been swirling. Sources close to the singer claim he’s been experiencing emotional distress, with reports suggesting he’s been erratic, sleep-deprived, and withdrawn. “He’s in a spiral,” an insider told Mail Online, noting that Bieber’s behavior—such as sending incoherent messages at odd hours—has deeply concerned those around him.
The meme he posted only intensified public concern and backlash. Social media platforms were flooded with reactions, many accusing Bieber of being petty and unable to let go of the past. “Justin Bieber spiraling because Selena got engaged? Karma’s doing its thing,” one X user commented. Others labeled the post as “embarrassing” and questioned why he was still fixated on Gomez years after their breakup.
As fans dissect lyrics from Gomez’s latest album for potential digs at her ex, Bieber’s cryptic post has only fueled more discussion about how both artists continue to publicly, and perhaps unintentionally, reflect on their shared past.