Pop star Selena Gomez and her music producer boyfriend Benny Blanco turned heads when they packed on the PDA courtside at the Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat game on January 4th, 2024. Their first official public date night as a couple had fans and celebrities buzzing about the blossoming romance.
A Cozy Public Debut
The new couple snuggled up close in the front row of the heated game, clearly only having eyes for each other. Selena, 31, rested her head on Benny’s shoulder several times throughout the night as they whispered back and forth. Benny, 35, was spotted affectionately running his hands through Selena’s long wavy locks.
At one point Benny was holding Selena’s hand in his lap, gently stroking it with his thumb as they grinned at each other. Selena was literally sparkling in a gorgeous silver paillette top and skirt combo, which nicely offset Benny’s relaxed dark jacket and jeans.
The two were perfectly in sync all evening, often turning heads at the exact same plays on court. When the Kiss Me More singer excitedly leapt out of her seat, Benny steadied her with a supportive hand on her lower back.
They took a break from the game at halftime to take some artsy selfies together which Selena later posted to Instagram. She captioned the post “Game on” with a sparkle emoji. The cozy photos received over 2 million likes in the first few hours.
Fans were delighted at this rare glimpse into Selena’s new relationship after her string of high-profile romances and breakups. The singer beamed brightly throughout the date, looking happier and healthier than she has in years.
Romance Timeline
Selena and Benny were first spotted together last September when paparazzi photographed them leaving the same restaurant late one evening. At the time they denied rumours of any romantic connection.
September 2023
| Sighting Together After Dinner | First sparked relationship rumours
| ————- |:————-:|
| October 2023 | Vacationed Together In Italy | Photographed strolling the streets of Florence holding hands
| November 2023 | Attended Museum Benefit Gala | Selena referred to Benny affectionately as her “dear friend Benny” in a speech
They continued to remain silent on the status of their relationship over the next few months. However behind the scenes it seems things were heating up between the two creative talents.
Benny travelled to Mexico with Selena’s close group of friends in November to celebrate her 31st birthday. He also quietly accompanied her on a trip back home to Texas in December where she spent the holidays with her family.
After months of speculation, Selena finally confirmed they were officially dating with an intimate New Year’s weekend getaway to Aspen, Colorado. She shared a beachfront photo of them snuggled up in winter coats on Instagram with the simple caption “2022, you were one tough cookie. Here’s to 2023…”
Their PDA-filled public date at the Lakers game appears to signal Selena is ready to openly share this relationship with her fans.
What The Body Language Experts Are Saying
We turned to body language expert Louise Mahoney to decode Selena and Benny’s intimacy during their big date debut.
“You can feel the comfort and familiarity between them. This is clearly not a new relationship but rather one that has had time to build trust and understanding.”
Louise points to Selena’s unguarded willingness to be emotionally vulnerable around Benny in the very public setting.
“She lets her head lull to the side and rest in a loved-up way on Benny’s shoulder, exposing the delicate neck area. This requires an immense feeling of safety and demonstrates Selena feels protected with him.”
The frequent eye contact and touches also showcase a deep affection.
“Benny is very keyed into Selena’s reactions through the night. He instinctively rubs her hand or back when she seems excited or tense. And the way he attentively brushes back her hair shows his adoration.”
In summary, Louise believes their natural rapport signals this relationship could go the distance.
“Unlike some of her past boyfriends, Selena looks utterly at ease with Benny. This suggests she has been able to make an emotional commitment and can finally relax into true intimacy.”
What Happens Next
It’s expected we’ll see Selena bring Benny as her date to more Hollywood events and music industry parties in the coming months. She is rumoured to be working on her first Spanish language album, which Benny is likely producing.
There’s already speculation the couple may collaborate musically with Benny’s industry connections and Selena’s enviable vocal talents. Duet rumours are swirling, which would certainly make them a formidable pop power pair!
With Selena looking so joyful and centered lately, here’s hoping 2023 brings happiness and creative success for her and Benny!
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