Inside ‘troubled’ Justin Bieber & ex Selena Gomez’s seven-year war as pals reveal real meaning behind shady Gollum dig

BOTH global superstars in their own right, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were the teenage sweethearts who left a legion of fans across the world heartbroken when they split.

The young pair first officially ended their high profile four-year in 2014, before pursuing a tumultuous on-off romance which eventually ended for good in 2018.

Years have passed and they’ve both gone on to find love – with wife , 28, and with record producer fiancé , 37 – but the pair appear to be at ‘war’ once again.

And while Selena, 32, appears happier than ever in her personal life away from the spotlight, many have recently voiced concern for Canadian pop star Justin, 31.

Rumours of issues, and a series of have plagued the troubled star.

Regardless of their current personal situations, it’s always been a turbulent tale between the Selena and her ex.

Shots have been fired from both sides over the years – and if rumours are to be believed, it seems neither party can quite let it go.

And now sources close to Bieber have now revealed exclusively to Flying Eze exactly what's going on.

The insider, who provided protection for the star on tours and public events, says: “Selena and Justin needed a lot of healing after what they went through and how things didn’t work out.

“They both thought that would be their ‘forever love’, but life dealt them cards which changed everything.

“They have never really had that moment to privately make any kind of peace with each other now that they have both moved on.

“It feels like there is a lot to say and much upset away behind closed doors at how they are not even on talking terms.

“That has lead to frustration. Just how it will be resolved is anyone’s guess.

“They are both in very different places now and yet forever linked by that turbulent past relationship. Each hears about one another through friends and letting go and walking away is not an option.”

‘No innocent one in this game for two’

Just last month it was at her childhood sweetheart.

Revealing her new album, I Said I Love You First, with fiancé Benny Blanco, two song titles instantly attracted attention, including How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten and You Said You Were Sorry.

Fans were quick to pick up on the latter seemingly clapping back to Justin's huge 2015 hit Sorry – which was about Selena.

To add context to the recent chapter in the pair’s ongoing public , Justin’s “apology” track topped the charts in 13 countries.

Bieber even confessed himself at the time the song was “a little bit”; about his ex.

The track included lyrics such as: “I'll take every single piece of the blame if you want me to, but you know that there is no innocent one in this game for two.”;

In Selena’s new offering, the singer reflects on how happy she is in her new relationship while singing about a “dream”; conversation she had with an ex.

“Don’t think about you, Happy without you, More now than I ever was, But I had a dream, You said you were sorry, said you were sorry / Sorry for everything / That you put on me,”; she sings, with many speculating it’s about Bieber.

While Selena hasn't commented on the rumours, in the second track also seemingly about “an ex”, the words could be interpreted as a more scathing dig.

The lyrics read: “You’re so embarrassing, Go cry when no one’s watching, I can’t imagine it, How does it feel to be forgotten?”

In an interview on Spotify she said the words were up for interpretation.

She said: “It’s up for whatever people want but, to me, it was about both [Selena and Benny's] pasts and our history and also just inspired by friends and relationships.”;

‘Double standards’ dig

Then, in what many fans perceived to be a dig at the songstress and her gushing delight over her upcoming nuptials after getting engaged in December, Justin then recently posted a slew of cryptic “mean” memes on Instagram.

This included one featuring an unflattering image of Gollum from the Lord Of The Rings trilogy with a ring with the caption: “Girls on social media when they get engaged.”

Needless to say, Selena’s loyal supporters were quick to put two and two together – and they were less than impressed.

“He’s been married for eight years and has a child at home to take care of, but [he’s] still shading his ex on his insta story...”; one furious fan commented on Twitter, while another added: “and his fans want us to believe he’s unbothered.”;

Explaining what those closest to him believe he meant by the post, our insider reveals: “One thing that Selena and Justin agreed on was trying to keep as much of their real private home life just for them not having to share it with their fans.

“Selena went through a stage where she hated answering to social and complained about how she was treated and how her privacy was eroded.

“And certainly from that perspective for Justin if he was aiming fire at Selena’s engagement announcement with the Gollum post that was like a ‘hey you isn’t this double standards?’

“In the past she made it clear to his friends of her hopes of taking back her true private life not wanting to be in thelimelight as much.

“So now she and Benny are putting it all out there eyebrows are being raised.

“And of course people’s views can change, but for some of Justin’sassociates that is how they interpreted his Gollum post.”

In another potential sign he may still be unable to break ties fully from his former love, fans also claimed earlier this week that he’d liked – and quickly unliked – an Instagram post of Selena’s featuring images of her and Benny.

Death threats & ‘hateful negativity’

It's the latest in a long line of public dramas and speculation between the pair and their retrospective partners.

Selena made no effort to hide her heartbreak when Justin moved on with Hailey Baldwin just months after they ended, and the pair wed later that same year.

At the time Hailey denied there was a crossover between her and Selena, saying: “I can say, period, point blank, I was never with him when he was in a relationship with anybody. That’s the end of it.”;

It seemed initially the break-up had affected Selena more, with the heartbroken star releasing two scathing breakup anthems, Lose You to Love Me and Look at Her Now.

What Justin has gone through over 15 years is complex and Hayley is his rock. She loves him for everything that he is and has guided him in his efforts to find a normal happy existence.

Source close to Bieber

The month after Justin married Hailey, Selena reportedly entered treatment for her mental health.

Battle lines were drawn, and the pair’s once united fans took sides in the break-up, with the hate aimed towards Hailey becoming so intense at one point she even pleaded with Selena for help.

Sharing a statement to Instagram, Selena wrote: “Hailey Bieber reached out to me and let me know that she has been receiving death threats and such hateful negativity.

“This isn’t what I stand for. No one should have to experience hate or bullying. I’ve always advocated for kindness and really want this all to stop.”

Direct drama between Hailey and Selena initially started after fans of Selena believed that she was being ‘bullied' by Hailey and close pal .

After Selena shared a post joking about over-laminating her eyebrows, Hailey and Kylie posted their own video focusing on their eyebrows, leading fans to believe that they were mocking the singer – a claim they both denied.

A tale of two halves

While Justin and Hailey welcomed their son Jack Blues in August 2024, his marriage to Hailey is widely rumoured to be “on the rocks”, and she even attended Vanity Fair's Oscars party without him.

Fans appear to have begun voicing concerns about Justin's health and his marriage to Hailey in early January, when the couple were forced to deny rumors of a split.

Fans have also become “concerned” for the singer more generally as they believe his recent behaviour is “a cry for help”;, as he has recently appeared disheveled.

Just this week he was filmed snapping at photographers in a tense exchange in Palm Springs, and last month he shared a glimpse inside his mental state, admitting he’s “drowning”; in pain after months of speculation around his health.

However our source reveals while Justin struggles with being out and about in public, there's no truth to rumours his marriage is struggling, saying: “Justin has endured a rocky past few years with his anxiety and mental health.

“He has struggled to get himself motivated to be in public because it puts him on edge.

“Many of us feel that is down to him never having really experienced a normal lifestyle where he could go to a store or walk somewhere without someone recognising him and either trying to talk or film him. It has unsettled his outlook on being in public.

“What Justin has gone through over 15 years is complex and Hayley is his rock. She loves him for everything that he is and has guided him in his efforts to find a normal happy existence.

“While everyone speculates that they are splitting up or living separate lives, the truth is that she is his everything.

“And their relationship has been such a beautiful and important factor in Justin keeping stability and happiness in his life during many challenging times.”

For Selena meanwhile, publicly at least, it appears the only way is up, now happily engaged and gushing to Vanity Fair: “I’ve never been loved this way.

“He’s just been a light. A complete light in my life. He’s my best friend. I love telling him everything.”;

So while Selena and Benny seem stronger than ever, it seems poor Bieber, despite the love and support around him, might still be spiralling.