There are speculations about a romantic connection between Selena Gomez and the producer recognized for hits such as “Eastside” and “Lonely.”
Benny Blanco, renowned in the music industry, has recently gained attention due to his rumored connection with Selena Gomez. On December 7, the “Only Murders in the Building” star engaged with Instagram posts hinting at a romantic involvement with Blanco. Responding to a fan account’s post featuring images of them together and suggesting a relationship, Gomez commented, “Facts.”
Requests for comments from representatives of Gomez and Blanco are yet to be addressed by TODAY.com.
Having known each other for years, Blanco and Gomez previously collaborated on the 2019 song “I Can’t Get Enough,” featuring J Balvin and Tainy. As their relationship draws attention, explore more about Benny Blanco below.
He’s a Virginia native who grew up loving music
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Born on March 8, 1988, Benny Blanco, whose real name is Benjamin Joseph Levin, spent his formative years in Virginia. Reflecting on his musical journey in a 2012 interview with Vibe, Blanco revealed that his passion for music began in childhood.
“I’ve been making music since I was a kid,” he shared. Expressing his determination, he emphasized that when you desire something intensely, you won’t give up easily. Blanco recounted his early days, stating, “I would hit up everyone like Jimmy Iovine, Polow Da Don, and I would cold call people and pretend I was a lawyer. They would pass me through, and I would be like, ‘Please let me play you my demo.’ So I just did a lot of wild stuff to try and grab people’s ears.”
He co-wrote and produced a number of hit songs
Blanco initially delved into creating hip-hop and indie music and exploring DJing. However, a pivotal moment in his career occurred when he crossed paths with producer Dr. Luke.
“(Dr. Luke) was like, ‘Yo, you should be making pop music. Why are you making this indie-hip-hop stuff? It’s cool, but you could be making really great pop songs,'” Blanco revealed in an interview with Vibe. This guidance proved to be a significant turning point in his musical journey.
Blanco’s extensive repertoire includes writing and producing credits for hit songs such as Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” Kesha’s “Tik Tok,” Britney Spears’ “Circus,” Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” and “Payphone,” as well as Gym Class Heroes’ “Stereo Hearts.” His collaborations extend to artists like Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, and more.
His debut single as an artist was “Eastside” with Khalid and Halsey
In 2018, Blanco marked a significant milestone by releasing his inaugural song, “Eastside,” in collaboration with Khalid and Halsey.
Sharing his excitement on Instagram, he expressed, “i just released my first song and video after being behind the scenes for 10+ years. This started out as something fun just to release songs w my friends that i love, but then it became really personal, and it feels like I just gave birth to my first song baby! Her name is Eastside. Bye!”
Accompanied by a music video that delves into personal aspects of his life, such as his fear of flying, memories of his first date, glimpses of his upbringing in Virginia, and details about his school, “Eastside” became a featured track on his debut album, “Friends Keep Secrets,” released on Dec. 7, 2018. The album also showcased other collaborations, including “I Found You” with Calvin Harris and “Roses” with Juice Wrld and Brendon Urie.
In 2021, Blanco released a re-issue of the album, which included the widely acclaimed collaboration with Justin Bieber, “Lonely,” solidifying his status as Gomez’s well-known longtime on-and-off boyfriend.
He’s worked with Selena Gomez on multiple songs
Blanco and Gomez recently collaborated on her latest track, “Single Soon,” where Blanco is credited as a producer alongside Cashmere Cat, according to NME.
Blanco’s production prowess extends to other tracks like Cashmere Cat’s “Trust Nobody,” featuring Gomez and Tory Lanez. In Gomez’s solo works, Blanco has contributed as a producer for songs such as “Kill Them With Kindness” and the 2015 hit “Same Old Love.”
Their musical partnership also includes the 2019 release “I Can’t Get Enough,” in which Blanco and Gomez, along with J Balvin and Tainy, joined forces. Upon the music video’s launch, Blanco shared a playful snippet capturing the duo jumping and playfully interacting on a giant bed.
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He’s been nominated for multiple Grammy and won many awards
Throughout his career, Blanco has received 11 Grammy Award nominations. His accolades also include six BMI Awards, two iHeartRadio Music Awards, and the prestigious Hal David Starlight Award at the 2013 Songwriters Hall of Fame.
He’s a foodie
A glance at his Instagram reveals Blanco’s profound passion for food. In 2020, he collaborated with chef Matty Matheson on a YouTube cooking show titled “Matty and Benny Eat Out America.” Blanco frequently shares videos featuring himself and friends preparing an array of dishes, desserts, and beverages.
Scheduled for release in April 2024, Blanco is set to publish “A Cookbook for Friends: Open Wide” with Jess Damuck. In his announcement on Instagram, he expressed the book’s purpose: “I wrote this book to teach you how to throw the sickest dinner party… to answer all the unknowns… what music do I play?? what type of weed and wine do I serve?? how do I kick all my friends out when I get tired but make it seem like it’s their idea so they still love me in the morning???”
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He’s also an actor
Blanco marked his television debut on the FXX show “Dave,” featuring Lil Dicky. He appeared in eight episodes, portraying a fictionalized version of himself.
