Mandy Teefey Played Matchmaker for Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco
Music producer Benny Blanco shared his surprise at Selena Gomez's romantic interest when she unveiled their engagement in December 2024, PEOPLE reported.
In their first joint interview with "Interview" magazine, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco spoke about how Mandy Teefey, Gomez's mother, facilitated their initial meeting. Gomez recalled, "I was around 16 or 17," when she first became acquainted with Blanco. He confirmed, mentioning how Teefey organized their music meeting.
Blanco further elaborated, "We first had music come out in 2013 or something," explaining that their collaboration started after he gained recognition, while she had yet to establish herself as a singer. Mandy Teefey, along with her husband Brian, was actively managing Gomez's career during her rise to fame on Disney Channel.
"You can tell how talented she is just by hearing her," remarked Blanco, who appreciated her initial music contributions. He called her the "original sad girl" of their time together on "Disney Records."
During their collaboration, Gomez began developing romantic feelings for Blanco. "It was really simple," she described. "We got in the studio to work on a song and we just talked." This natural connection allowed Gomez to realize her feelings first, stating, "I liked him before he liked me."
Blanco admitted he "had no idea" about Gomez's feelings at the beginning of their collaboration. He reminisced about suggesting he could introduce her to friends while being unaware that she considered their interactions as dates. Their dinner plans led to another level in their relationship for Gomez that he had completely underestimated.
On their second outing, Blanco suddenly felt a notable shift. He expressed, "You know when you think you met the right person; you’re like, ‘Oh my god.’" After realizing how strong their bond felt, he declared, "The second we started hanging out, I was like, ‘This is my wife.’" He later shared, "I was telling my mom, ‘This is the girl I’m going to marry.’ She's my best friend."
In the interview, Blanco conveyed a bit of regret, saying, "How did we not figure this out sooner? I’m 36 years old." His admiration for Gomez was evident throughout their conversation.
Gomez publicly confirmed her relationship with Blanco in December 2023 by engaging with fan posts on Instagram. She affectionately referred to him as "He is my absolute everything in my heart."
Their commitment was further showcased when they made a red carpet appearance at the 2024 Emmys. Celebrating their creative partnership, they collaborated on Gomez's 2019 hit, "I Can't Get Enough," before transitioning into their romantic relationship in June 2023. Soon after, Gomez released "Single Soon," produced by Blanco.
Exciting news surfaced as the couple announced their joint album titled "I Said I Love You First," set to release on March 21, 2025, illustrating their thriving personal and professional partnership.
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