The Biebs and The Baldwin: A Faux Or Real Fairytale?

Sorry, “beliebers” (if that’s still even a thing?!)— Justin is officially off the market. 

Over the weekend, the 24-year-old pop star dropped— not a new album, but a $400,000 diamond engagement ring into the lap of his new fiancé, Hailey Baldwin. The engagement was announced Monday (in typical millennial/gen z fashion) on Instagram, to both the delight of those rooting for the famously on again, off again couple… and the soul-crushing dismay of those who secretly hoped the Biebs would eventually get back together with his other on again, off again ex—Selena Gomez.

Yes, let’s talk about Selena— whose position in all this now smacks of Jennifer Aniston’s circa the juicy, gossip-packed tabloid days of the “Brangelina” scandal. While the situation isn’t exactly the same (no cheating involved…that we know of), all eyes are now eagerly on her to see how she’s taking the news. After all, wasn’t it just a few months ago (March, to be exact) that Justin was making her “one less lonely girl”? Mmm hmmm. Interesting. 

Spoiler: she’s going to be just fine. The soon-to-be 26-year-old singer was spotted yesterday sporting a winning smile and beautiful new hair extensions (long hair, don’t care)—a far cry from your typical tragic post-breakup ‘do. But come on. If we’ve learned ANYTHING from Brangelina-gate, it should have been that the media unfairly portrays women who’ve been left by their partners as victims—and that the women and girls of today simply aren’t having it. Jennifer survived, and so will Selena. Point blank, period.

Meanwhile, the Page Six(es) of the internet will say that the Bieber x Baldwin engagement was apparently months in the making, and list the celebrity friends who support Justin’s whirlwind proposal to Hailey in the Bahamas. Now, of course, it is possible he could have had a true “come to Jesus” moment in the months since he split with Gomez...  

But it’s a hard sell. 

Let’s face it, the former youtube singer doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to model behavior. He’s been in and out of the paparazzi’s all-seeing camera lens for assault and reckless driving… and who could possibly forget the time TMZ nailed him for the time he filmed himself singing NAKED to his GRANDMA (note: he was not a child then)? Ew. 

On the other hand, Hailey’s record (held by the gatekeepers in the land of public opinion) is pretty clean. And you know what they say…opposites attract, and blah blah, blah. The 21-year-old model was raised as a practicing Christian, though she is no stranger to both family and Hollywood drama (she is the niece of the talented, if not slightly unhinged, Alec Baldwin, after all). Her father, of course, is actor Stephen Baldwin—who was extremely quick to give his blessing to the soon-to-be happy couple, FYI.

A little suspicious considering the two had only been dating for A MONTH before the proposal. Cue the side-eye. 

While some may find the old-fashioned gesture of asking Hailey’s father for permission to marry her, one could also find Justin’s supposed nod to chivalry a little disturbing. Although the Biebs’ love for Baldwin shines through on his Instagram post announcing the engagement, his vow to “lead our family” (as opposed to say, walk alongside Hailey, maybe?) calls attention to the sexist way men—even of the younger generations—view the dynamics of their relationships with women. Again, we’re not having it—though something tells us Hailey is more than capable of holding her own. 

But, the truly eye roll worthy moments aside, it’s impossible to look at “Jailey” (see what we did there?) without seeing the obvious: two people in love. They’re young, beautiful, and completely in control of whatever happens next. 

Don’t worry, we’ll be watching.