Justin Bieber sparks fan speculation after alleged like on old Selena Gomez photo

Fans of Justin Bieber have been buzzing after claims that the singer briefly liked a comment on a 2016 photo of himself kissing his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez.

According to eagle-eyed followers, Justin appeared to like a Spanish comment reading “Vivan los novios” — meaning “Long live the bride and groom!” — under the throwback image. The person who wrote the comment said Justin clicked the heart button but later removed the like within hours.

Justin and Selena had an on-again, off-again relationship between 2010 and 2018 before going their separate ways. Later in 2018, Justin married model and entrepreneur Hailey Bieber, and the couple now share a son.

Fans quickly began speculating about whether the like was intentional. Some suggested Justin may have come across the image due to a current social media trend where users are resharing photos from 2016. One fan wrote, “Meanwhile Justin out here liking pics of him and his first love,” while another referenced Hailey’s own 2016 throwback caption, which read, “You just had to be there.”

Justin and Hailey’s marriage has frequently been the subject of online rumours, with repeated speculation about possible relationship troubles since they tied the knot. Justin also appeared to allude to marital challenges on his seventh studio album released last year. More recently, fans have voiced concern over his well-being after he was seen partying with friends.

Despite the ongoing chatter, Hailey has maintained a confident public stance about her future with Justin, sharing positive updates and appearing unfazed by the rumours.

Meanwhile, Selena has also found herself drawn back into headlines involving Hailey. In October, Selena responded on social media after fans believed Hailey shaded her during an interview while discussing her skincare brand Rhode Beauty, which is often compared to Selena’s Rare Beauty line.

Hailey said she does not feel competitive with people who do not inspire her and admitted she finds constant comparisons between the brands “annoying.” Shortly after, Selena posted — and later deleted — a message saying, “She can say what she wants, it doesn’t affect my life whatsoever,” before urging kindness and asking fans to “leave the girl alone.”

Selena and Hailey previously attempted to shut down feud rumours in 2022 by posing for a photo together. However, fans remained sceptical, especially after it was noted in June that the two women had unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Speaking to WSJ Magazine, Hailey addressed the long-running narrative, saying it is frustrating to be pitted against others and that she never asked for such comparisons.

In her personal life, Selena recently married music producer Benny Blanco in a lavish ceremony held at a private residence in Santa Barbara, California. Guests stayed at the nearby El Encanto Hotel and included close friends and celebrities such as Taylor Swift, as well as Only Murders in the Building co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short, and actor Paul Rudd.

The newlyweds have since shared photos from their wedding on social media, with Benny posting multiple tributes to Selena.

Selena, who has previously been linked to stars including Nick Jonas, Charlie Puth, Zedd and The Weeknd, has spoken openly in the past about the challenges of high-profile relationships — challenges that continue to follow her, Justin and Hailey years after their lives moved in different directions.