--- description: Selena Gomez criticized ex Justin Bieber after he posted a controversial caption addressed to his fans relating to alleged girlfriend Sofia Richie. title: The Internet Is Loving the Selena Gomez-Justin Bieber Instagram War image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6c333594d71c265/6988a262ab6d7753e16aae57/selena-gomez-justin-bieber-sofia-richie.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber Are Having an Instagram War and the Internet Loves It  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 15, 2016 3:43 PM CUT  Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber arrive at the 2011 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/WireImage) Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber arrive at the 2011 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/WireImage)JB Lacroix—WireImage  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 15, 2016 3:43 PM CUT The Internet imploded Sunday night after [Selena Gomez](http://time.com/4415053/selena-gomez-could-be-making-serious-bank-on-her-instagram-fame/ "undefined") allegedly called out her ex, [face tattoo enthusiast](http://time.com/4322795/justin-bieber-face-tattoo-reason/ "undefined") [Justin Bieber](http://time.com/4084131/justin-bieber-sorry/ "undefined"), in an Instagram comment. The [enfant terrible of the music world](http://time.com/4281839/justin-bieber-dreadlocks/ "undefined") recently warned fans that he would make his Instagram private if they continued to hate on his purported new lady friend, Sofia Richie. The 17-year-old [celebrity progeny](http://time.com/4439098/celebrate-the-anniversary-of-lionel-richies-dancing-on-the-ceiling-with-these-80s-movie-dance-sequences/ "undefined") has received a barrage of Internet vitriol from Beliebers after the Biebs posted a series of selfies with her on his Instagram. As might be expected, Bieber’s fans were up in arms that their beloved would abandon them for his new squeeze. This is just the latest [in a series of recent events](http://time.com/4326097/justin-bieber-no-fan-photos/ "undefined") this year that has had Bieber in hot water with his ardent fans. [_People_](http://www.people.com/article/justin-bieber-selena-gomez-instagram-feud "undefined") reported that Gomez commented on Bieber’s Instagram post with the following: “If you can’t handle the hate, then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol- It should be special between you two only,” she wrote. “Don’t be mad at your fans. They love you and supported you before any one ever did.” This comment immediately made Selena the veritable patron saint of the Beliebers, which predictably did not sit well with the Biebs. Bieber [reportedly](http://www.people.com/article/justin-bieber-selena-gomez-instagram-feud "undefined") responded to Gomez in the comments as well. “It’s funny to see people that used me for attention and still try to point the finger this way,” he wrote. “Sad. All love.” According to [_People_](http://www.people.com/article/justin-bieber-selena-gomez-instagram-feud "undefined"), he later added another comment, noting, “I’m not one for anyone receiving hate. Hope u can all be kind to my friends and eachother. And yes I love my beliebers.” This brief online interlude between the pair formerly referred to as Jelena was all the Internet needed to create a hashtag, #SelenaEndedJustinParty, which promptly started trending on the web. Some fans were in awe of Selena’s deft handling of the situation. > [](https://twitter.com/chanelnkordei/status/765114786560503809) > [](https://twitter.com/OfficialPLT/status/765109311056011264) While some were Beliebers who were just grateful for Selena standing up for them. > [](https://twitter.com/vanillaspain/status/765149284014653444) > [](https://twitter.com/TheRitaOraWorld/status/765149218092773376) One fan queried why Justin accused Selena of being attention-hungry, when [his throwback photos of her post-breakup](http://time.com/4320988/most-liked-instagram-selena-bomez-justin-bieber/ "undefined") have basically broken the Internet. > [](https://twitter.com/thisiskick/status/765149762920210433) While others were just here for the drama. > [](https://twitter.com/thatgomezboy/status/765136347183079424) > [](https://twitter.com/serendjpjty/status/765135827533983748) > [](https://twitter.com/NoControlProjec/status/765021857133240324) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4452301/selena-gomez-justin-bieber-instagram-sofia-richie/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4452301/selena-gomez-justin-bieber-instagram-sofia-richie/"},"headline":"Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber Are Having an Instagram War and the Internet Loves It","datePublished":"2016-08-15T15:43:50.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:35:30.040Z","description":"Shots fired","url":"https://time.com/4452301/selena-gomez-justin-bieber-instagram-sofia-richie/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Entertainment","Justin Bieber","Selena Gomez","celebrity"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6c333594d71c265/6988a262ab6d7753e16aae57/selena-gomez-justin-bieber-sofia-richie.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6c333594d71c265/6988a262ab6d7753e16aae57/selena-gomez-justin-bieber-sofia-richie.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"2011 American Music Awards - Arrivals","caption":"2011 American Music Awards - Arrivals","creditText":"JB Lacroix—WireImage","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4452301/selena-gomez-justin-bieber-instagram-sofia-richie/","name":"Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber Are Having an Instagram War and the Internet Loves It"}}]}] ```