The Three Real Reasons Why Selena Gomez And The Weeknd Broke Up: A Definitive 2025 Analysis

Despite what many fans believed at the time, the high-profile, 10-month romance between pop superstar Selena Gomez and Grammy-winning artist The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) ended for a combination of complex reasons far beyond a simple lack of chemistry. While the breakup occurred back in late 2017, the details—particularly The Weeknd’s cathartic musical response—continue to be a major talking point in 2025 as both artists navigate new relationships and career highs.

This definitive analysis cuts through the speculation to reveal the three primary factors that led to the split, how the intense pressure of their careers created an unbridgeable distance, and the surprising role a certain famous ex-boyfriend played in the final chapter of their relationship.

Selena Gomez and The Weeknd: A Dual Biography

Before diving into the breakup, understanding the background of these two global icons is crucial, as their demanding lives were the root cause of their relationship's demise.

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Selena Marie Gomez (Born July 22, 1992)

• Birthplace: Grand Prairie, Texas, USA.
• Early Career: Began as a child actor on Barney & Friends before achieving global fame as Alex Russo on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place.
• Music Career: Transitioned to music with Selena Gomez & The Scene, later becoming a solo artist with hits like "Come & Get It," "Hands to Myself," and "Lose You to Love Me."
• Notable Projects: Starred in films like Spring Breakers and currently stars in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building.
• Personal Life: Has been open about her struggles with mental health and her battle with lupus, which led to a life-saving kidney transplant in 2017. She is currently dating music producer Benny Blanco.

Abel Makkonen Tesfaye (The Weeknd) (Born February 16, 1990)

• Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• Parents: Ethiopian immigrants.
• Career Start: Gained initial recognition through anonymous YouTube music releases in 2010 before releasing his debut mixtape, *House of Balloons*.
• Global Fame: Known for his dark, R&B-infused pop, achieving massive success with albums like *Beauty Behind the Madness*, *Starboy*, and *After Hours* (featuring hits like "Blinding Lights" and "The Hills").
• Awards: Multiple Grammy Awards and an Academy Award nomination.
• Recent Projects: Co-created and starred in the HBO series *The Idol*. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists.

The Three Undeniable Factors That Led to the Split

The relationship between Selena Gomez and The Weeknd began publicly in January 2017 and lasted until October of the same year. While they made a stunning pair—even making their red carpet debut at the 2017 Met Gala—the romance was ultimately doomed by structural issues inherent to their lifestyles.

1. The Unrelenting Distance and Conflicting Schedules

The most consistently reported reason for the breakup was simply their demanding and incompatible work schedules.

The Weeknd was in the middle of his massive *Starboy: Legend of the Fall* World Tour, which took him across Europe and South America for much of 2017. This meant long periods of separation.

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Selena Gomez was simultaneously filming projects, working on her album *Rare*, and, most significantly, dealing with a severe health crisis. She received a kidney transplant in the summer of 2017, requiring her to prioritize her recovery and mental health.

Sources close to the couple confirmed that the distance and the inability to spend quality time together made the relationship difficult to maintain. They reportedly tried to make it work through phone calls and long-distance communication, but the strain proved too much.

2. The Weeknd Initiated the Breakup

Contrary to speculation that Selena's focus on her health or her ex was the sole cause, multiple reports indicated that The Weeknd was the one who ultimately ended the relationship.

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Sources suggested that Abel Tesfaye called Gomez a few weeks before the public announcement to let her know the relationship was no longer working for him.

This detail is crucial, as it refutes the narrative that the breakup was an entirely mutual decision based solely on busy schedules. While the schedules were the catalyst, the final decision came from his side, perhaps recognizing the difficulty of sustaining a serious relationship while maintaining a global touring career.

3. The Shadow of Justin Bieber (Jelena’s Reunion)

The timing of the split—and its immediate aftermath—fueled massive media speculation. Just days after the breakup was confirmed, Selena Gomez was photographed spending time with her on-again, off-again ex-boyfriend, Justin Bieber.

The reunion with Bieber was swift and highly publicized, leading many to believe that it was the true reason for the split. While sources maintained that the distance was the primary factor, the reappearance of "Jelena" in Selena's life certainly complicated the final weeks of her relationship with The Weeknd.

Selena later clarified that the split was amicable, stating they "ended it as best friends" and that it was genuinely about "encouraging and caring [for each other]."

The Musical Aftermath: A Cathartic Response

Perhaps the freshest and most enduring evidence of the breakup's emotional impact is found in The Weeknd's music. His 2018 EP, *My Dear Melancholy,* is widely regarded as his direct, cathartic response to the end of his relationships with both Selena Gomez and his previous ex, Bella Hadid.

The song "Call Out My Name" is the most explicit track about his time with Selena.

• The Lyrical Clues: The song contains powerful, raw lyrics that reference a life-saving act, which fans interpreted as a direct reference to Selena's kidney transplant.
• The Controversial Line: The line "I almost cut a piece of myself for your life" shocked fans, suggesting The Weeknd was ready to donate a kidney to her, though this was never officially confirmed.
• The Regret: Other lyrics express a sense of betrayal and being used, stating, "Guess I was just another pit stop / 'Til you made up your mind / You just wasted my time." This strongly suggests his perspective on her quick reunion with Justin Bieber.

The Weeknd himself later confirmed that the EP was "cathartic" and was "all I had to say on this situation," effectively closing the chapter on his side.

Selena Gomez also has songs rumored to be about The Weeknd, including "Souvenir" from her 2020 album *Rare*, though she has been more reserved about confirming the inspiration for her tracks, even denying that her 2023 single "Single Soon" was about him.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords

• Key Relationships: Justin Bieber, Bella Hadid, Benny Blanco.
• Music/Albums: *Starboy: Legend of the Fall* Tour, *My Dear Melancholy,* *After Hours,* *Rare* album, "Call Out My Name," "Souvenir," "Blinding Lights," "The Hills."
• Health/Career: Lupus, kidney transplant, mental health, Disney Channel, *Wizards of Waverly Place*, *Only Murders in the Building*.
• Events: 2017 Met Gala, Red Carpet Debut.
• People: Abel Tesfaye, Mandy Cornett, Ricardo Gomez.