Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez‘s love life is about as on-and-off as a light switch, so we’re not surprised that the two have been spotted looking very loved up since the end of last year.
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With their long romance being a constant series of ups and downs, we thought it would be best to give you all a brief breakdown of their tumultuous relationship – because we’ll soon be needing an annotated guide to keep up.
So if you’re slightly out of the loop, we’ve got the timeline to get you up to speed.
Jelena: A Brief History
2009
December
Ah, young love. Before the possibility of “sliding into the DMs”, Justin not-so-subtlely let the world know he had taken to Selena with this flirty tweet.
@selenagomez good seeing u. Until next time. Maybe new years 😉
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 16, 2009
2010
December
Justin and Selena are first spotted canoodling at IHOP by TMZ, igniting the Jelena fire that will unknowingly burn for the next seven years.
Of course, the two young stars denied that the date was anything more than friendly, with Selena calling Justin “one of my best friends.”
2011
January
Unlike other teenagers, Selena and Justin’s formative first few dates were spent in exotic locations – like the Caribbean – and not a McDonald’s carpark.
The two were snapped getting close on a private yacht in St. Lucia, setting gossip sites ablaze.
February
Being two of the world’s most famous young pop stars makes it difficult to keep things under wraps, so it was no surprise that the two decided to make it official at the Vanity Fair Oscar’s After Party.
Image via Zimbio
May
Once again proving themselves to be far from your average teenagers, Jelena are spotted kissing on the beach in Maui, Hawaii.
September
In case you needed a reminder of the power of celebrity – Justin hires out the entire L.A. Staples Center so that he and Selena can watch Titanic in private. No word on whether they tried to copy the “I’m flying, Jack!” move.
romance isnt dead. treat your lady right fellas. #REAL
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) September 24, 2011
November
The first snag in the Jelena fabric – a woman named Mariah Yeater claims to be pregnant with Justin’s child. The paternity suit is later dropped.
2012
February
In the most romantic month of the year, Justin gives Selena a diamond ring in the shape of a ‘J’ which she posts to Twitter with the caption, “I’m finally home.”
May
Things aren’t looking good for the two lovebirds and speculations arise that the two have called it quits. A brief reconciliation in December occurs but it’s quickly squashed.
2013
January
New beginnings. Fresh start. I love you all 🙂
— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) January 2, 2013
Need we say more?
March
Selena appears on The Late Show With David Letterman and tells the world, “I’m single … I’m so good.”
When Letterman tells her he made Justin cry on an earlier show, she says, “Well, then that makes two of us.”
Ouch.
Image via Daily Mail
April
Along with cryptic song lyrics from Selena in her hit, ‘Come & Get It’, Bieber continues to fan the Jelena fire by uploading and then immediately deleting an Instagram post of the two.
December
Justin admits in an interview with Power 106 FM that his song “All That Matters” is about Selena and says, “It’s just hard for the both of us. But you know, she’s a great woman. I love her to this day.”
2014
January
New year, new me doesn’t apply to Jelena as they rekindle the flame and are spotted riding Segways near Justin’s home in California.
Justin also continues with his social media love dedications by posting this onto his Instagram.
April
Jelena fans around the world feel their hearts break once more when Selena unfollows Justin on Instagram after he’s spotted with a long line of beautiful socialites and models, including the Jenner sisters.
July
Justin gets into a fist fight with Orlando Bloom in Ibiza but there’s no clear facts as to whether this is over Selena or Orlando’s ex, supermodel Miranda Kerr.
November
Selena releases “The Heart Wants What It Wants” which she subtlely hints is about Justin, though the rest of the world have already caught onto this and eagerly await the next Jelena milestone. Selena emotionally performs the song at the American Music Awards and Jelena fans around the world shed a collective tear.
Image via Pinterest
December
Justin unfollows Selena on Instagram and then posts this photo with model Hailey Baldwin, telling the world that he is “super single.”
2015
January
Selena is spotted on a double date with her “I Want You To Know” collaborator Zedd and Zac Efron with then-girlfriend Sami Miro. The relationship only lasts three months, with Zedd being unable to handle the baggage that comes with dating an international pop star.
Image via Getty
November
In an interview with Ellen Degeneres, Justin admits that some of the songs off his smash-hit album, Purpose, are about Selena. Specifically, “What Do You Mean”, “Sorry”, and “Mark My Words.”
When Ellen asks the million dollar question – Will you ever get back together? – Justin replies, “Maybe. I mean we have a lot of history together so I’m sure it could possibly happen.”
A video later surfaces of Justin singing “My Girl” to Selena in a Beverly Hills hotel.
2016
January
TMZ reportedly catch Jelena together but it’s not long before Justin posts a picture to Instagram oh him and other recurring flame, Hailey Baldwin, kissing.
March
Justin continues to confuse everyone and toy with the hearts of Jelena shippers by posting a picture of the two kissing, with Selena commenting, “Perfect.”
August
Justin once again takes to Instagram to update the world on his love life, this time with photos of him and Sofia Richie. The Jelena army are not pleased and rebel, inundating both Instagram accounts with hateful comments. Justin threatens to make his Instagram private.
Selena watches the drama unfold from behind the flames, eventually commenting:
“If you can’t handle the hate then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol—it should be special between you two only. Don’t be mad at your fans. They love you.”
This begins an all-out war of words, with the two accusing one another of cheating (Bieber with multiple people, Selena with Zayn Malik) before Selena declares, “I’m done.”
Justin goes the next step and deletes his Instagram account. He also unfollows Hailey Baldwin under Sofia Richie’s instruction.
Selena then takes the high road and calls her actions “selfish and pointless” on Snapchat.
2017
January
Selena begins dating The Weeknd only two months after he calls it quits with supermodel Bella Hadid. Justin later mocks The Weeknd in a video in February.
May
Selena and The Weeknd make their couple debut at The Meta Gala
October
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Jelena begins to resurface after pictures of the two attending Hillsong masses together are published. The Weeknd seems fine with them spending time together, especially following Selena’s gruelling kidney transplant.
It’s soon announced that The Weeknd and Selena have split after 10 months together.
November
Present day and Jelena has once again been brought back to life. While there’s no official word that the two are back together, the recent hockey photos seem to be enough to keep the Jelena fire burning.
Images via TMZ
2018
February
The two are spotted at Justin Bieber’s dad’s wedding in Jamaica and can’t keep their hands to themselves.
Image via Backgrid USA
While we hope this will be the end of their constant “are they/aren’t they” story, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on the next big Jelena milestone. Who knows; we may be hearing wedding bells after all of this!
