After Selena Gomez commented “lol” underneath an Instagram roundup from Game 4 of the NBA Finals that had photos of various celebrities in attendance including Taylor Swift, the Rare Beauty founder clarified speculation she was shading her longtime pal.

"Woke up and was sent so many texts," Gomez wrote on her Instagram Stories June 11. "I would never insult my friends, nor was it an insult. The comment was a reaction to the first slide on the page."

The 33-year-old also made sure to explain another Instagram Story she'd posted the previous night in which she written, "Mad respect for the game!! Congrats to the peeps that represent. What a comeback. So funny how some are all the sudden fans though lol."

As Gomez explained, it was all about the opposing team.

"Second I bet my friends on the game," she shared. "The friends in the text chain I posted. I lost but was poking at my opponents, my friends. Believe it or not I do have other friends in my life. But quickly forget that most assume otherwise."

The "Hands to Myself" singer ended her post by providing some perspective on the situation.

Fans who thought that Gomez was shading Swift were perhaps also disregarding the depth of their years-long friendship, which the Only Murders in the Building actress recently revealed has actually included the "Blank Space" singer writing songs about her.

"'Dorothea' is about me," she explained on the March 3 episode of her husband Benny Blanco's podcast Friends Keep Secrets. "I feel like a lot of huge moments that were self-defining, from relationships to family to love to hate, all of it in between—we were figuring it out because I was 15 and she was 18."

"We didn't really know what was going on," she continued. "We've never seen each other any differently. When I listen to it, I'm so impressed by how it's eloquently put."

Gomez also revealed that Swift wrote a second song about her, but she's never released it.

"There's this song that Taylor wrote about us and it was called 'Family,'" she explained. "It was over, easily, a decade ago, insinuating in the lyrics, without quoting, it is basically saying you have these amazing dreams. You want to be in a movie, in every crowd I see you."

"Then her part was, you believe in my stupid dreams, like playing stadiums," Gomez added. "Now, when I listen to those songs, both of those things have happened for us. And that's really sweet because back then, she was just like, 'I wrote this song about us and it was just our story,' and it was the sweetest thing."

Selena Gomez received a hug from Taylor Swift during her 2025 wedding to Benny Blanco.

The longtime friends made the whole place shimmer at the 2024 Golden Globes.

Selena shared this pic with her BFF days after they reunited at the 2023 MTV VMAs.

Taylor gave her bestie a sweet kiss in their selfie.

The pair celebrated Independence Day together with friends at Taylor's party.

Selena celebrated her 30th birthday with Taylor, writing on Instagram in 2022, "30, nerdy and worthy."

Selena later revealed that Taylor gave her a painting she had made to mark the milestone.  

"She painted a beautiful lake," the actress shared on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast in 2026. "It was at night and the moon was there. In the stars, she painted our exact star signs."

According to Selena, Tayloralso handstitched a message on the painting's canvas, reading, "Here's to the next 30 years."

Reuniting for the "Look What You Made Me Do" singer's Rose Bowl concert in 2018, the longtime besties serenaded the crowd with Selena's hit "Hands to Myself."

"I'm grateful for those I surround myself with," Selena captioned this photo  the day after the concert. "And this woman right here happens to be one of my favorites. Love our tradition and I love you."

The two arrived in style at the 2016 Grammy Awards.

During the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards, the iconic pair posed with "Starlight" singer Serayah.

The two embraced during the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

The "Bad Liar" singer gave her bestie a tight hug backstage of the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards. That night, Taylor won four awards—Female Artist, Tour, Meme-able Moment and Album—and Selena won Triple Threat.

The two performed onstage during Swift's 1989 tour show in Los Angeles on Aug. 26, 2015.

"Happy birthday my nugget. #girlsnighttothefullest," wrote the "Wolves" singer on Instagram for Camila Cabello's special day.

In celebration of Camila 's 18th birthday in 2015, the "Havana" singer surrounded herself with famous friends, including the "Delicate" pop star, the "Back to You" singer, Jaime King, Hailee Steinfeld, Sarah Hyland, Joey King, Hayley Williams and the Haim sisters.

Selena and Taylor hung out at the 2014 American Music Awards.

The two hung out at the 2014 Met Gala, as seen in this Instagram video.

Taylena joined Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry at the 2011 American Music Awards.

Are they out of the woods yet? In a funny Instagram post, the besties posed in major greenery and joke about Taylor's 2016 hit.

At the 2011 American Music Awards, the stars had some fun and made their 3D glasses and neon sticks look glamorous.

The singers hung out at the 2011 American Music Awards.

Taylena looked adorable at the premiere of Another Cinderella Story in 2008.