It was a night of glamour, glitz, and — perhaps — a touch of tension at the 2025 Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, where Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber found themselves on the same red carpet for the first time in months. The two stars, whose intertwined history through Justin Bieber has long fueled headlines, narrowly missed an awkward run-in — just hours after Gomez appeared to take a subtle dig at her ex’s wife.
Gomez, 33, arrived at the star-studded event looking every bit the Hollywood powerhouse in a sleek black gown that shimmered under the lights. All eyes, however, were on her and her date — husband Benny Blanco, 37 — marking the couple’s first red carpet appearance since their intimate wedding last month, which reportedly took place in the presence of close friends, including Taylor Swift. The newlyweds looked radiant, exchanging affectionate smiles as cameras flashed.
The moment came just after Gomez stirred speculation online earlier that day with a cryptic social media post that fans interpreted as a thinly veiled reference to Hailey Bieber. Though Gomez didn’t name names, her timing — just hours before the gala — didn’t go unnoticed by eagle-eyed followers.
Meanwhile, Hailey Bieber, 28, arrived at the same event exuding confidence and style in a daring corset-inspired gown that turned heads the moment she stepped onto the carpet. Missing from her side was husband Justin Bieber, 31, who opted to skip the evening. Instead, Hailey brought her longtime best friend, model Kendall Jenner, 29, as her plus one. The pair, who have been inseparable since their teenage years, laughed and posed together for photographers before taking their solo portraits.
According to witnesses, event organizers subtly timed arrivals to prevent a direct encounter between Selena and Hailey, whose appearances have long sparked media frenzy. Though they never crossed paths on the carpet, the air of anticipation was palpable — with fans and reporters alike wondering whether the two might share an icy glance or a polite nod.
Both women, however, remained poised throughout the evening. Gomez was seen mingling with industry friends inside the venue, while Hailey reportedly enjoyed her time chatting with Kendall and other celebrity attendees. Despite their close proximity, the two maintained a respectful distance — a far cry from the social media storms that once defined their public relationship.
The 2025 Academy Museum Gala drew a glittering lineup of A-list stars, from Margot Robbie and Timothée Chalamet to Zendaya and Tom Holland, all celebrating the best of film and fashion. Yet it was the quiet near-meeting of two of Hollywood’s most-watched women that had everyone talking.
For fans still following the long-running narrative between Gomez, Bieber, and Hailey, the evening offered no confrontation — but plenty of intrigue. And if there was any lingering tension, both women proved one thing beyond doubt: sometimes grace under the spotlight speaks louder than words.