7 Shocking Facts About The Weeknd And Selena Gomez's Intense 10-Month Romance And Its Lasting Musical Legacy

The brief, high-profile romance between global superstars The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Selena Gomez remains one of the most intriguing chapters in modern celebrity dating history. Despite lasting only ten months, their coupling in 2017 generated a media frenzy that continues to spark speculation and analysis years later, particularly due to the powerful musical fallout that followed. Even as of late 2024 and early 2025, fans and media outlets still dissect their short-lived time together, searching for clues in new song releases and social media posts, proving the enduring curiosity about this power couple.

This article dives deep into the timeline of 'Abelena,' the real reasons behind their split, the definitive songs that immortalized their breakup, and the latest updates on how each artist has addressed the relationship in the years since. We look past the paparazzi photos to examine the professional and personal pressures that led to the end of their relationship and its significant impact on their respective careers.

The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Selena Gomez: Complete Profile & Biography

The relationship between Abel Tesfaye and Selena Gomez brought together two of the most successful and influential figures in music and entertainment. Understanding their individual careers is key to grasping the magnitude of their short-lived partnership.

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Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye: Profile

• Full Name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
• Born: February 16, 1990 (Age 35 as of December 2025)
• Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Career Highlights: Canadian singer-songwriter and record producer. Known for his genre-bending music, transitioning from the dark R&B of his early mixtapes (House of Balloons) to global pop dominance with albums like Starboy, After Hours, and Dawn FM. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and headlined the Super Bowl LV halftime show.
• Other Ventures: Co-creator and star of the HBO series The Idol.

Selena Marie Gomez: Profile

• Full Name: Selena Marie Gomez
• Born: July 22, 1992 (Age 33 as of December 2025)
• Hometown: Grand Prairie, Texas, USA
• Career Highlights: American singer, actress, and producer. Rose to fame as the star of Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place. Her music career includes hit albums like Stars Dance, Revival, and Rare. She is a Grammy-nominated musician and a Golden Globe-nominated actress for her role in Only Murders in the Building.
• Other Ventures: Founder of the successful makeup brand Rare Beauty and a prominent mental health advocate.

The 10-Month 'Abelena' Timeline: How It Started and Why It Ended

The Weeknd and Selena Gomez’s relationship began at the start of 2017, immediately following The Weeknd’s split from model Bella Hadid. Their coupling was a whirlwind of international travel, red carpet appearances, and intense media scrutiny, capturing the attention of millions of fans globally.

The Whirlwind Romance

• January 2017: The couple is first spotted kissing outside a restaurant in Santa Monica, California, confirming the new romance. This immediately became a major news story.
• April 2017: They make their relationship Instagram official, posting photos from the Coachella music festival.
• May 2017: They make their red carpet debut as a couple at the Met Gala, cementing their status as a major Hollywood power duo.
• Summer 2017: The two travel extensively together, with Gomez accompanying Tesfaye on his Starboy World Tour stops across Europe and South America.

The Breakup: Conflicting Schedules and Personal Turmoil

The relationship officially ended in October 2017 after approximately ten months. The primary reason cited by sources close to the couple was the immense strain caused by their conflicting, demanding careers and grueling schedules.

Selena Gomez was simultaneously dealing with significant personal health issues, including a kidney transplant due to her battle with Lupus. The logistical challenges of maintaining a relationship while both were traveling the world for their respective careers proved too great to overcome.

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The Musical Aftermath: Dissecting The Weeknd's 'My Dear Melancholy,' EP

The most enduring legacy of the 'Abelena' romance is undoubtedly the music it inspired. Just five months after their breakup, The Weeknd released his surprise 2018 EP, My Dear Melancholy,, a six-song collection widely viewed as a direct, deeply emotional response to his split from Selena Gomez and his subsequent return to Bella Hadid.

The EP title itself, with its comma, suggests a personal note, and the lyrics are strikingly specific, leaving little doubt about the subject matter. The Weeknd later confirmed in an interview that the EP was "all he had to say on [this] situation."

The 3 Definitive Songs About Selena Gomez

Three tracks, in particular, are universally accepted as being about the former Disney star, showcasing the raw, post-breakup emotion of Abel Tesfaye.

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1. "Call Out My Name"

   This is the most direct and famous breakup anthem from the EP. The lyrics express a sense of being used and a deep, sacrificial love. The most shocking line is the one rumored to reference Selena's life-saving kidney transplant, which occurred during their relationship: "I almost cut a piece of myself for your life." This line immediately fueled global speculation that he had considered donating his kidney to her.

2. "Privilege"

   The closing track is a somber reflection on the finality of the split, where Tesfaye wishes his ex-lover well and acknowledges her need to move on. Lines like "Enjoy your privileged life / 'Cause I'm not gonna hold you through the night" convey a sense of resignation, hinting at the pressures of their high-profile lives.

3. "Hurt You"

   While this song is believed to primarily address his on-again, off-again relationship with Bella Hadid, it reflects the overall theme of failed relationships dominating the EP. The track explores the idea of a cycle of toxic love and the inability to commit fully, which was a core reason for the 'Abelena' split—conflicting schedules and demanding careers.

Latest Speculation and The Enduring Friendship Entity

Despite the dramatic musical aftermath, both artists have moved on, though the public's fascination has not. The latest updates focus on Selena Gomez's recent statements and her current relationship status.

Selena Gomez Shuts Down Rumors (The "Single Soon" Speculation)

In mid-2023, Selena Gomez released the upbeat track "Single Soon." Almost immediately, fan theories exploded, suggesting the song was a subtle shade or reference to her split from The Weeknd. However, Gomez quickly and publicly shut down the rumor, commenting on social media that the song was definitively *not* about her ex.

This denial is a testament to the fact that their brief relationship still carries enough weight for a new song to be immediately linked back to it, years later. It highlights the enduring power of celebrity speculation and the desire for a cohesive narrative in pop culture.

The 'True Friendship' Entity

Interestingly, despite the intense breakup and the emotional songs, Selena Gomez has maintained a positive public stance on their post-split relationship. In a 2017 interview, she referred to Abel Tesfaye as her "best friend" and expressed pride that a "true friendship" had developed between them, even as their romantic relationship ended.

This claim of a lasting, genuine friendship is a key entity in the 'Abelena' narrative, contrasting sharply with the raw heartbreak expressed in My Dear Melancholy, and offering a more mature, less dramatic conclusion to their story.

The Weeknd and Selena Gomez: The Final Word

The romance between The Weeknd and Selena Gomez was a flashpoint moment for both artists. It was a 10-month, high-intensity relationship that was ultimately a casualty of two massive, global careers. The enduring legacy is not the length of the relationship, but the depth of the emotion it inspired, which was immortalized in one of The Weeknd's most critically acclaimed and personal EPs, My Dear Melancholy,.

While both stars have moved on—Selena with her Rare Beauty empire and current romance with producer Benny Blanco, and The Weeknd continuing his cinematic music journey with albums like Dawn FM—the songs and the speculation about their time together will likely remain a permanent, compelling thread in the tapestry of 21st-century celebrity lore.