Selena Gomez and Zayn Malik: A Complete Timeline of Their Rumored Relationship

Either the rumor mill is working overtime or Selena Gomez is dating former One Direction member Zayn Malik—and honestly, either scenario is completely believable. 

Zelena rumors first went viral in March when an alleged restaurant hostess at a celeb-favored New York City restaurant took to TikTok after getting texts from another hostess that Gomez and Malik were getting hot and heavy while out to dinner. The sourcing was obviously sus, and even DeuxMoi, Instagram’s favorite gossip page, had doubts. 

However, a source speaking to Entertainment Tonight recently backed up the TikTok creator’s claims—and you know what that means: It’s time for a complete timeline of Selena Gomez and Zayn Malik’s rumored relationship.

December 2010—March 2018: Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber repeatedly date and break up for about eight years. We’re not going to get into everything that happened, but there’s one moment that specifically pertains to Malik…

August 14, 2016: During an off period in 2016, Gomez and Bieber reportedly get into an argument on Instagram over photos he shared with rumored girlfriend Sofia Richie. During their alleged spat in the comments, Gomez seemingly implies that Bieber “cheated multiple times” during their relationship. According to screenshots shared by Harper’s Bazaar, he responds, “I cheated.. oh I forgot about You and Zayn?”

At this time Malik is dating Gigi Hadid. Gomez allegedly responds to the comment, writing, “I’m done. I have Selenators to meet.”

October 2021: After having dated on and off since November 2015, Hadid and Malik call it quits just one year after welcoming their daughter, Khai. 

May 15, 2022: Gomez says she’s “manifesting love” during her Saturday Night Live hosting debut. “I would like to say that I’m looking for my soulmate, but at this point, I will take anyone,” she jokes. 

January 15, 2023: Gomez is allegedly spotted “making out” with The Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart at NYC bowling alley The Gutter, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to Page Six.

January 19: Selena Gomez seemingly shuts down relationship rumors by posting and deleting an Instagram story with the hashtag “I am single.” Over a black-and-white landscape, she writes, “I like being alone too much.” 

January 21: Gomez and Taggart are photographed holding hands in NYC.

March 15: Gomez jokes that her crush “doesn’t even exist” in a TikTok video. Gomez captioned the post “Still out here lookin for him lol.”

March 21: Gomez reportedly goes to dinner with Malik’s personal assistant Taryn Zimmerman. According to the report shared by Us Weekly on March 31, Gomez and Zimmerman were photographed at NYC’s Nobu just two days before Gomez and Malik’s alleged outing.

March 23: TikTok user and alleged restaurant hostess Klarissa Garcia posts a video claiming her friend who is also a hostess seated Gomez and Malik at an NYC hotspot. In screenshots of their text message exchange, the friend wrote, “Tell me why Selena Gomez and [Zayn] just walked into [restaurant redacted] hand in hand making out and I seated them.”

In the video, Garcia also noticed that Gomez is one of only 18 people that Malik follows on Instagram. And yes, she follows him back.

March 24: DeuxMoi shares an IG story saying they haven’t been able to independently confirm the story, adding, “Usually when she’s out in NYC someone writes in seeing her & I always thought Zayn stayed in Pennsylvania.”

However, an eyewitness source tells Entertainment Tonight, “Selena and Zayn went out in SoHo in New York City last night at around 10:30 p.m. They walked in holding hands and were kissing. Most restaurant staff and restaurantgoers didn’t notice them. It seemed like they were comfortable together and it was clear that it was a date.”

March 27: A source tells Us Weekly that Gomez and Malik aren’t “super serious,” but Malik might like them to be. “Zayn has known Selena for years and he’s definitely into her,” the source said. “He’s always admired her and thinks she’s an incredible person, inside and out.”

The source says the pair are not exclusive, adding, “She’s free to see other people. However, Zayn would love to continue to see Selena and see where things go.”

This post will (probably) be updated.