Selena Gomez Responds to Hailey Bieber Comments

In a WSJ Magazine profile about her Rhode skincare brand's Sephora launch, Hailey Bieber said she is “annoyed” to be constantly pitted against others, that “there is space for everybody,” and that she “doesn’t feel competitive with people that I’m not inspired by,” remarks many interpreted as a subtle shot at Selena Gomez and Rare Beauty. Hailey’s publicist reportedly cut off the interview question and sources close to her, echoed by TMZ, said the remarks were directed at competing skincare brands and denied any feud. Selena Gomez posted—and later deleted—an Instagram Stories message telling fans to “leave the girl alone,” saying Hailey “can say whatever she wants” and adding it’s “about relevance not intelligence,” with screenshots and fan reactions spreading online. The exchange has reignited long-running, fan-driven rivalry narratives tied to both women’s past relationships with Justin Bieber despite a public truce attempt in 2022. The coverage also highlights the commercial stakes — Rhode is launching at Sephora alongside Rare Beauty after Rhode’s sale to e.l.f. for about $1 billion — and observers say the back-and-forth has kept the story in headlines.