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Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato’s on-off friendship is definitively off again, despite Gomez’s very public tribute to Lovato after her Grammys performance this January. Lovato made clear to Harper’s Bazaar that Gomez’s post surprised her…and gave her mixed feelings.
For context, Gomez and Lovato were on the show Barney together as kids and later became Disney Channel stars. They were best friends in their adolescence who would vlog together, but their relationship became strained as they came into adulthood. They had their moments where they were sweet to each other publicly (and one reunion in 2017), but for the most part, they haven’t been part of each other’s lives.
Gomez did speak about Lovato in her ELLE cover interview in 2018, six days after Lovato overdosed. Gomez got choked up: “All I’m saying is, I reached out personally,” she started. “I didn’t do a public thing. I didn’t want to. I…I love her. I’ve known her since I was seven. So…it’s…that’s what I’ll say.”
After Lovato sang “Anyone” during the Grammys this January—a song she originally recorded days before she overdosed in July 2018—Gomez posted a heartfelt message to her former friend on Instagram. She signaled warm feelings were still there. “I wish there were words to describe how beautiful, inspirational, and DESERVED this moment was,” Gomez wrote. “Demi, I’m so happy for you. Thank you for your courage and bravery.” Lovato never responded to it.
There was a reason, but Lovato opted not to go into it during her Harper’s Bazaar interview. “When you grow up with somebody, you’re always going to have love for them,” Lovato started when asked about the tribute. “But I’m not friends with her, so it felt …” Lovato stopped herself. “I will always have love for her, and I wish everybody nothing but the best.”
