For months, Selena Gomez and music producer extraordinaire Benny Blanco have been hanging out. So much so that rumors about them being more than just musical collaborators and friends started swirling. Well, it looks like we can put those rumors to rest all thanks to Selena leaving various comments on the Instagram Popfactions account, a tabloid page on Instagram, that posted a carousel that was meant to show evidence that Sel and Benny have been getting cozy.
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Selena, did not deny the dating rumors. Instead, she seemingly confirmed them as “facts.” Benny Blanco is already well-known and quite accomplished in the music industry. He may not be a household name to the general public, but he's a celebrity to celebrity musicians. So, who is this man who has Selena all smitten? Proceed to find out.
Let’s start with a little background.
Benjamin Joseph Levin born March 8, 1988—that makes him a Pisces, if you’re into that sort of thing. He was born in Reston, Virginia. professionally he goes by benny blanco in all lowercase letters.
He started off by making beats in his bedroom when he was still living with his parents.
Originally, he wanted to be a rapper until he realized “no one cares what a chubby Jewish kid from Virginia thinks.” That’s when he switched to making beats. In 2006, he graduated from high school and moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, where he ended up releasing an EP with rapper Spank Rock in 2007.
One thing led to another.
The EP he made with Spank Rock led to Benny being taken under the wing of record producer Dr. Luke. Benny spent four years learning the ins and outs of pop music production. That training has served him well and continues to pay off.
He’s become quite the producer.
He’s not just a producer, he’s kind of a legend in the making. A 2018 article in the New York Times refers to him as “one of the most successful producers and songwriters in contemporary music.”
He’s an award-winning songwriter.
In 2012, he won Songwriter of the Year Award at the BMI Pop Awards. “Few tales of meteoric stardom rival that of Benny Blanco. The Songwriters Hall of Fame is proud and most honored to recognize this young writer’s artistic and commercial accomplishments,” said Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman Jimmy Webb at the time.
He’s founded two record labels.
In collaboration with Interscope Records he founded Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets. His Interscope artist profile reads:
“As an artist, benny has released two much-lauded albums, the Platinum-certified FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS and FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS 2, featuring the global smash hits “Eastside” with Halsey and Khalid, “Lonely” with Justin Bieber and further collaborations with Juice WRLD, Marshmello, Calvin Harris, Ty Dolla $ign, 6LACK and many more.”
He’s an artist in his own right.
In 2018, he released his debut single “Eastside.” Benny is listed as lead artist and joined by Halsey and Khalid. The video for the song feels very personal and shares details from his childhood in a very tender, yet matter-of-fact way.
And he’s an actor.
Aside from being in music videos, he is also on the TV series Dave, in which he plays a fictional version of himself. “What’s up, man? Benny Blanco,” he says as way of introduction after a very explicit and profane explanation of what he would like Dave to do to him on the eighth episode of the first season of the show.
He has a cookbook coming out.
As if being a producer, musical artist, and actor weren’t enough, Mr. Blanco can cook and is coming out with a cookbook. Open Wide comes out April 30, 2024. When he posted about it on Instagram, Selena commented: “Finally .”
He has a gift for putting others at ease.
He told the New York Times that “like 75 percent” of his success is the result of being able to put others at ease. “What I can do is meet an artist, know what type of song I think we should make and be their therapist, make everyone feel comfortable.”
He’s worked with very famous musicians.
Like who? Well, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, and even two of Selena’s exes: Justin Bieber and The Weeknd. Recently, he and Snoop Dogg worked together on “Bad Decisions.”
He’s known Selena for some time.
Selena, J Balvin, Tainy, and Benny worked on the bilingual hit single “I Can’t Get Enough.” Benny is in the video for the song, dressed a dancing white teddy bear. In 2023, Selena released “Single Soon,” which was co-produced by Benny.
He collects hit No. 1 songs like it’s no big deal.
According to his Wikipedia page, “Blanco has amassed 29 total number-one songs and is recognized for his achievements with artists.” It’s Wikipedia, so take it with a grain of salt, but there is no denying he’s racking up those No. 1s like nobody’s business.
He’s funny.
On his website, you can buy a “one-of-a-kind genuine Blanco hair, sourced from the root of his head. 99% cruelty free. Highly limited” for the just $4,995. He does have very nice curls.
How did Selena go IG official with him?
On December 4, Popfactions posted a carousel on Instagram all about Selena and Benny’s rumored romance with the caption: “#SelenaGomez seemingly confirms that’s she is in a relationship.” Selena herself commented: “Facts.”
She went on to reply to leave other comments confirming her crush as well. “He is my absolute everything in my heart,” she wrote in one, and responded to one person with: “then why has he been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The end.”
The singer went on to post a pic of herself laying in Benny’s arms.
If it’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words, then the picture Selena posted to her IG is a thousand-word love story in which Benny is using that gift he has for putting people at ease. Selena looks beyond comfortable as she snuggles him.
Meanwhile, Benny thinks Sel is ‘perfect.’
He posted a video where he says he’s not gonna talk about his girlfriend, but then can’t seem to help himself and blurts out, “She’s perfect!” His enthusiasm is pretty adorable.
Selena and Benny spent some time in New York together.
Taylor Swift celebrated her birthday in New York on December 13 and Selena was there. So was Benny. We know because Selena posted a carousel on IG and Benny was in the some of the pics, including one where they are locking lips.
They certainly seem smitten with each other.
Unfortunately, the internet being the internet, there are haters who seem to have an issue with Benny’s appearance. One such hater felt compelled to share that they think Benny is “so unhandsome” in the comments section of the Popfactions account. “Feel bad for you,” Selena responded to that person.
