(Culture)

We Know Why Selena Gomez Took Back Justin Bieber

Selena Gomez walking next to a car holding a to-go coffee cup

Whatever your thoughts may be about Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, one thing’s for sure: She seems happier than ever—and we can’t blame her. Although the two have kept an on-off affair since they started dating seven years ago, it’s clear Selena has overcome incredibly tough life challenges and learned from past relationships. This is only further confirmed in a new interview with Billboard in which she’s straight-up questioned about her decision to take back the Biebs and delivers the most candid of responses: “I’m 25. I’m not 18, or 19, or 20,” she explains. “I cherish people who have really impacted my life. So maybe before it could have been forcing something that wasn’t right. But that doesn’t mean caring for someone ever goes away.”

And it seems the pop songstress maintains the same outlook toward ex-boyfriend The Weeknd despite their highly publicized split after just 10 months of dating. “Something that I’m really proud of is that there’s such a true friendship [between me and The Weeknd],” she says. “I truly have never experienced anything like that in my life.” Oh, and get this—turns out, they ended on good terms: “We ended it as best friends, and it was genuinely about encouraging and caring [for each other], and that was pretty remarkable for me,” she adds. True, it’s a little suspect considering The Weeknd’s latest social media purge of any and all Selena effects, but we’re just going to have to take her word for it. All the best to you, Selena.