Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco kicked off 2024 with their first public date. The couple attended a Los Angeles Lakers game against the Miami Heat. They sat courtside and were very cuddly. They were also featured on the jumbotron, although they did not kiss; Gomez simply waved. She wore a black and white jacket, while Blanco was dressed in a white top and statement floral blazer.
In some shots, he had his hand on her leg:
In others, she had her arm linked with his:
Gomez confirmed her relationship with Blanco in December, stating then that the two had been dating privately for six months. “He has treated me better than any human being on this planet,” she wrote in one Instagram comment.
A source also spoke to Entertainment Tonight around the same time, sharing that the couple had just become more serious. “Selena and Benny have been casually seeing each other for a while and more recently, it became more official,” the source said on December 7. “Things have been going really well between them and Selena is happy. She thinks Benny is very funny and of course, extremely talented. Selena is in a great place in her life and feels content and relaxed. She is enjoying where things are going.”
On December 15, a source gave Entertainment Tonight more detail, saying, “She feels so safe and secure with him, so she felt like it was a good time to share how happy she is with her fans. Benny is a great communicator, is honest and open with Selena, and listens to her. He’s respectful, isn’t a player, and not in it for the attention or fame. He doesn’t care about any of that, and Selena sees that and really trusts him.”
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.