Selena Gomez and Chris Evans: The 2021 Dating Rumors Explained!
Quick answer: No. Selena Gomez and Chris Evans have never dated. The 2021 rumors came from an Instagram follow, an old crush confession and photos that turned out to be years old. Both stars have since married other people.
In October 2021, Selena Gomez and Chris Evans became the center of dating rumors. A single Instagram follow, a few viral photographs and some social media theories were enough to send fans into a frenzy. Selena had once said she found Chris attractive, which only made the speculation more exciting.
So was anything really going on between the singer and the Captain America star, or was it another case of the internet turning coincidence into celebrity news? Here is how the rumors started, what the photos actually showed, and where things stand today.
Are Selena Gomez and Chris Evans Dating Now?
No. There is no known romantic relationship between them. Both have since married other people: Chris Evans married Portuguese actress Alba Baptista in September 2023, and Selena Gomez married music producer Benny Blanco on September 27, 2025.
How Did the Dating Rumors Start?
The speculation began in early October 2021, when fans noticed that Chris Evans had started following Selena Gomez on Instagram. Following someone is hardly proof of romance, but screenshots spread quickly, and fan accounts soon added more “clues.” Within days, the story had reached entertainment sites.
Three details fueled the rumor:
- The Instagram follow. Chris’s following list was fairly selective, so fans read extra meaning into the follow. Selena did not appear to follow him back at the time, and neither star ever explained it.
- Selena’s crush confession. During a 2015 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Selena said she had a crush on Chris and called him cute. When the 2021 rumors emerged, the clip resurfaced and felt like a missing puzzle piece.
- Viral photos and a movie theory. Fan accounts shared photos that supposedly showed the two at the same restaurant and recording studio, and some speculated they were secretly working on a film together.
A celebrity crush is not a relationship, and none of these details proved anything on its own. Together, though, they made a story fans wanted to believe.
The Viral Photos: What They Really Showed
In October 2021, fan accounts posted side-by-side photos that appeared to show Selena and Chris leaving the same restaurant, and another set that appeared to show them at the same Los Angeles recording studio. At first glance, it looked like visual evidence.
Entertainment outlets, including Elle and E! News, checked the images and found that they came from different dates and places.
| Photo | What fans claimed | When the photos were actually taken |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | Same outing, October 2021 | Selena: November 2017. Chris: October 2013 |
| Recording studio | Same session, October 2021 | Selena: 2019. Chris: 2020 |
In other words, the photos did not show the two together in 2021, and there is no verified photographic evidence that they spent time together at all.
How to spot recycled celebrity photos
Stories like this spread fast, but you can check them in a minute:
- Run a reverse image search (Google Lens or TinEye) to find the earliest appearance of a photo.
- Look for clothing, hair and background details that don’t match the date being claimed.
- Check whether the two photos were really taken together or are simply placed side by side.
- Look for confirmation from the stars or a reputable outlet before sharing.
Did Either Star Confirm the Rumors?
No. Neither Selena Gomez nor Chris Evans publicly confirmed a relationship, and there was no announcement, joint public appearance or reliable evidence of one. The claim that they might be making a movie together also never produced a verified announcement or project. The rumors stayed social media speculation rather than an established romance.
Timeline of the Rumors
- 2013 to 2020: The photos later used as “evidence” are taken, years apart.
- 2015: Selena says on Watch What Happens Live that she has a crush on Chris.
- Early October 2021: Fans notice Chris Evans following Selena on Instagram.
- October 2021: Side-by-side photos go viral; outlets show they are old.
- September 2023: Chris Evans marries Alba Baptista.
- September 27, 2025: Selena Gomez marries Benny Blanco.
Why Rumors Like This Spread
Celebrity rumors thrive on three things: small, ambiguous signals (a follow, a like), a ready-made narrative (a past crush), and content that looks like proof but is easy to share without checking. Once a few fan accounts connect the dots, the story gains momentum long before anyone verifies it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
The 2021 rumors show how quickly a small social media interaction can become a major celebrity story. An Instagram follow, an old crush confession and misdated photos made for a fun fan theory, but never a confirmed romance.
