Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez Have Been Best Friends for Decades – Inside Their Friendship

In an industry where alliances shift as quickly as chart positions, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez have built something far rarer than a hit collaboration: a friendship that has quietly outlasted fame cycles, heartbreaks, and global scrutiny, growing stronger as both women came into their own.

Swift and Gomez first crossed paths in 2008 under circumstances that felt almost scripted for pop culture history. Both were teenagers navigating sudden fame and first loves while dating members of the Jonas Brothers.

Swift was linked to Joe Jonas, while Gomez dated Nick Jonas. What could have been an awkward overlap instead became the foundation for a friendship that neither of them would outgrow.

Selena Gomez on Why Taylor Swift Became Her Safe Place

By 2009, Gomez was openly crediting Swift as her emotional anchor. She once said that every problem she faced felt manageable after talking to her friend.

According to Gomez, Swift had already experienced many of the challenges she was dealing with and offered thoughtful, grounded advice.

She also admired Swift’s belief in love and soul mates, noting that their daily conversations helped her hold onto hope. The bond was not just friendly but deeply supportive, rooted in trust and shared vulnerability.

Growing Up Together in the Spotlight

From 2010 through 2013, Swift and Gomez were nearly inseparable on red carpets and at awards shows. They posed together, laughed together, and became a reassuring constant for fans who watched them grow from Disney and country music beginnings into global stars.

Their presence together signaled stability during years when both careers were evolving quickly, and public narratives about them often felt louder than their own voices.

Why Their Friendship Endured When Others Faded

In 2014, Swift reflected on the uniqueness of her relationship with Gomez during an interview, describing it as the longest-lasting bond either of them had maintained.

She spoke candidly about the surreal experience of having one’s life commented on, fictionalized, and misunderstood by the public.

Swift emphasized that longevity in friendships becomes especially precious when everything else feels temporary. For both women, sticking together through constant change made their connection rare and deeply valued.

Sharing the Stage and Standing Side by Side

Their friendship entered a new chapter in 2015 when Gomez joined Swift on the 1989 tour, performing "Good for You" in front of roaring crowds.

That same year, Gomez appeared in Swift’s "Bad Blood" music video and stood alongside her at the MTV VMAs as part of Swift’s high-profile circle.

From 2016 to 2018, they continued to show up for one another publicly. One standout moment came in May 2018 at the Rose Bowl, when the two performed Gomez’s "Hands to Myself" during Swift’s reputation tour.

Supporting Each Other Through Quiet and Loud Moments

Even during the isolation of the pandemic in 2020, their bond did not waver. Gomez openly praised Swift’s work, including her folklore album, proving that distance and circumstances did little to dull their mutual admiration.

In 2021 and 2022, they shared smaller, more intimate glimpses of their friendship online, from playful comments involving Swift’s cat Benjamin Button to heartfelt birthday tributes.

From Fourth of July Polaroids to Wedding Speeches

In 2023, Swift posted new photos of the two together during her Fourth of July celebration, including Polaroids that delighted fans who had followed their friendship for years. They continued to be seen together throughout the year, maintaining their familiar closeness.

The friendship reached a new milestone in December 2024 when Gomez announced her engagement to Benny Blanco. Swift responded with joy, joking that she would be the flower girl.

By 2025, an insider confirmed that Swift attended Gomez’s wedding and delivered an emotional speech. She reportedly reflected on witnessing Gomez’s heartbreaks over the years and expressed her happiness that her best friend had found lasting love.

After nearly two decades, Swift and Gomez’s friendship remains a testament to loyalty, growth, and the power of having someone who stays when everything else changes.