Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco Photo Slammed

A photo of Selena Gomez and her new boyfriend is being slammed online for being "musty" and "cringy."

Rumors about Gomez and music producer Benny Blanco—real name Benjamin Levin—dating started to emerge in 2023. They went public with their relationship in December of that year and, since then, the duo have been spotted out and about looking completely smitten.

However, a picture of the pair posted to Instagram on Tuesday has raised some eyebrows. The pop singer posted a series of photos of her and her boyfriend in which the couple were posed in various romantic embraces. Gomez captioned the images "My bes fwend," to which Blanco commented: "Das my bes fwend."

In the first image, the Emmy-nominated actress is embracing Blanco from behind while he is cooking. The second snap sees Gomez sitting in Blanco's lap, who has his hand on her chest while planting a kiss on her shoulder. It is this picture that has resulted in backlash from people online.

Entertainment X account (formerly Twitter) Pop Base uploaded the photo and wrote in the caption: "Selena Gomez and boyfriend Benny Blanco in new photo." At the time of writing it had been viewed more than 579,000 times.

Many people took the opportunity to share how tasteless and cringe they think the photo is.

Newsweek contacted a representative for Gomez and Universal Music, who owns Interscope Records and represents Blanco, for comment via email Wednesday.

"why is this so cringy... get yo dusty hands away from her!!!!!!" one person wrote.

"this photo smells musty omg," said another.

"i've seen sewer rats more hygienic looking than this," a third person wrote.

"Totally tasteless!" a different X user commented.

A fifth added: "Yeah, I'm a hater because this photo gave me the ick."

However, others took the opportunity to defend Gomez and her relationship.

"I think I speak for everyone when I say we need more wholesome content like this," someone with an opposing view wrote.

"Can we agree that he is the only guy that accepted her as she is and is treating her well? Sorry I don't like him but I have to admit he is good to her and makes her feel special. Selena wanted this and deserves to be happy," said another.

"BYE SHE LOOKS SO GOOD I AM SO HAPPY FOR HER WHEN WILL IT BE ME," someone else posted.

A fourth person added: "She looks so happy!"

This isn't the first time that people have criticized Blanco online. When the couple attended the 75th annual Emmy Awards together Blanco wore a dark trench coat —and the public were not sold. Many believed his wardrobe choice didn't match Gomez's show-stopping look. Blanco also experienced another fashion faux pas when he was spotted wearing a pair of white Crocs to a basketball game.

Gomez and Blanco reportedly met in 2015, when he worked on the singer's second solo album Revival. The producer is credited on the tracks "Kill Em with Kindness" and "Same Old Love."

Near the end of 2023, fans noticed subtle clues that Gomez and Blanco might be dating. The record executive attended a benefit for the Rare Impact Fund, Gomez's mental health charity, in October.

When Blanco shared a photo of his new cookbook, Open Wide, to Instagram in November, Gomez liked the image. She also posted a snap with Blanco while describing the songwriter as her "fav" in the caption. The couple was snapped on their first public date in January when they attended a basketball game together.