Selena Gomez And Demi Lovato Aren't Friends Anymore. Here's Why
Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez were #FriendshipGoals ever since they met on the set of Barney and Friends from 2002 to 2004, per Insider. "Very early on, you could just tell, they clicked," Fred Holmes, the show's director, described Gomez and Lovato's cute bond to the International Business Times in 2017.
From there, the Disney darlings — Lovato starred on Sonny with a Chance, while Gomez had a leading role on Wizards of Waverly Place — became inseparable. So much so, they filmed YouTube videos together and couldn't help but gush about one another. "This is my best friend in the entire world," the "Confident" singer said in one clip.
Gomez also gave fans insight as to why their friendship was so solid. "I think really what makes her a true friend for me is just that she's honest with me, and she's always there for me, no matter if it's three in the morning, even if we're not saying anything on the phone, just talk to her and tell her absolutely anything," she said in the video. "And she's got the biggest heart ever."
Later on, Gomez and Lovato starred in the Disney Channel original movie Princess Protection Program in 2009, and Gomez told People the pair "enjoy doing everything together" — especially hanging "at each other's houses" and "watching movies."
But in 2010, their friendship began to crumble. So, why are the two pop stars no longer pals? Let's get to the bottom of this situation.
Taylor Swift might be to blame
Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez starred in the Disney Channel original movie Princess Protection Program in 2009, but less than one year later, it seemed like the two A-listers were at odds with one another. Fans had one major question: Did Taylor Swift cause a rift between Gomez and Lovato?
In January 2010, Lovato was in London, where she was spotted signing autographs for fans. One person asked the "Cool for the Summer" songstress how her bestie Gomez was doing. "Ask Taylor," she replied, as recorded by the fan in a YouTube video. Ouch.
Gomez and Swift — who are still BFFs as of this writing — got close after they dated Nick Jonas and Joe Jonas, respectively, in 2008. After Gomez and Nick called it quits, the Texas native revealed she counts on Swift to give her advice when it comes to love — not Lovato. "Every single problem I ever have is healable by Taylor Swift!" she told Seventeen magazine in 2009. "If I ever have an issue, Taylor has gone through it, because she's older than me, and she gives the most thought-out answers." Gomez also revealed she talks to Swift "every day."
Adding fuel to the fire, Lovato told Girls Life magazine in June 2010 that "true friends don't let their friends or family be mean to you" (via Buzzfeed). Lovato added, "If you can't trust somebody, you can't be friends with them."
Selena and Demi have each had personal struggles
To say that Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato have dealt with their fair share of struggles in life would be an understatement. After Lovato checked into rehab to deal with "emotional and physical issues" in 2010 per People, she revealed Gomez was "so worried" about her. "Selena called me crying when I was in there," Lovato told Italian outlet TelevisionetMusic in 2013. "And I was like, 'Look, I should be the one crying. It's all good.' She was so worried, and ever since then, we've gotten closer."
Meanwhile, Gomez was dealing with her own troubles. The singer checked into rehab in 2014, per Entertainment Tonight, after she was diagnosed with lupus, she told GQ magazine in 2016. In August 2016, Gomez went back to rehab after suffering from "panic attacks" on tour, she told Vogue in 2017. In July 2017, the Monte Carlo star revealed she received a kidney transplant via Instagram. In January 2018, Gomez went to a "two-week wellness program" to be "proactive about [her] health and wellness," a source told ET.
But in July 2018, Lovato was hospitalized after an overdose at her home in Los Angeles, per CNN. Months later, Gomez acknowledged she had been in contact with her old pal. "All I'm saying is, I reached out personally," she told Elle magazine. "I didn't do a public thing. I didn't want to. I love her. I've known her since I was 7."
Demi 'will always have love' for Selena
Clearly, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez have been through a lot together over the years. Even though the two pop stars aren't in each other's lives anymore, it seems like they will always continue to support each other.
After the New Mexico native performed a raw version of her song "Anyone" at the 2020 Grammy Awards — her first time on stage since her near-fatal overdose in 2018 — Gomez praised her former friend on social media. "I wish there were words to describe how beautiful, inspirational, and DESERVED this moment was," the "Boyfriend" songstress captioned a photo of Lovato on Instagram, per Insider. "Demi, I'm so happy for you. Thank you for your courage and bravery."
In April 2020, Lovato cleared the air as to where she stands with Gomez after the public shoutout. "When you grow up with somebody, you're always going to have love for them," she told Harper's BAZAAR in April 2020. "But I'm not friends with her, so it felt ..." she said before pausing. "I will always have love for her, and I wish everybody nothing but the best."
While Gomez and Lovato's friendship might not be written in the stars, fans are still holding out hope that the two Disney stars reunite at some point. Princess Protection Program 2, anyone? Or a pop song collaboration? In Hollywood, anything is possible.