When news of Selena Gomez’s engagement to songwriter Benny Blanco first broke, many fans were left perplexed, and countless social media comments reflected a shared disbelief.
One central point of confusion stemmed from the perception that Blanco, who does not embody traditional Hollywood standards of appearance, seemed an unlikely match for Gomez.
The award-winning singer and actress had famously dated other high-profile figures, leading some fans to assert that Blanco was simply not “worthy” of her.
The chorus of online speculation intensified as observers questioned whether his less polished, more unassuming style could possibly align with Gomez’s glamorous public image.
Whoever this man was, he is about as lucky as they get.
But it seems that everyone might have been a little too quick to judge a book by its cover.
The couple released their album, ‘I Said I Love You First,’ last week and have been doing interviews non-stop.
But surprisingly, it’s not just their music that’s impressing fans. Benny Blanco himself is proving to be a standout.
Clips from their interview on Jay Shetty’s podcast, On Purpose, have been shared widely online.
The internet has dubbed Benny a “walking green flag,” praising his emotional intelligence and respect for his partner.
In the podcast episode, “How Benny Taught Me to Trust Again,” Blanco reveals that he made a list of qualities he wanted in a future partner before he even met Selena.
It is this self-awareness and genuine desire for a balanced partnership that is striking a chord with listeners.
Beyond being aware of Selena’s strengths and weaknesses, Blanco actively supports her in both areas. He knows what she needs and ensures that she gets it.
Whether it’s a goodnight text or an “I love you” message when he’s away, Benny makes sure Selena feels loved and cared for.
Here’s a clip that made everyone swoon and collectively decide that he is a “walking green flag”.
@jayshetty 🚨Brand new podcast🚨with @benny blanco and @Selena Gomez ♬ original sound – Jay Shetty
No wonder Selena has said that she felt “immediate safety” with Benny.
An ideal partner
Any partner could say, “I’m aware of her strengths and I’m aware of her weaknesses,” but Benny did more than just become aware of them.
He learned quickly how to support Selena in both—and proactively, too.
For example, he says “I know what she needs… she wants to talk to me before she goes to bed, she wants me to say ‘I love you’, she wants me to text her if I wind up having to stay somewhere two hours late.”
He comments on how easy and quick checking in via text message is, but that “it really helps,” especially long-distance.
Blanco also stands out for his listening skills.
He emphasizes that men should listen to what women say they need, explaining that being a supportive partner isn’t hard if you truly care and listen.
This perspective is refreshing in an era where listening is often undervalued.
Even the most aware and loving people deal with conflict, and the couple isn’t afraid to admit they’re not any different.
In talking about how they navigate it, Benny says “We’re the furthest thing from perfect in the world.”
In the next breath, he says “We’re perfect for each other.”
Benny explains that he always wants to “fix things” for Selena, but he understands that strong women ”have the world on their backs.”
He goes on to say that sometimes, they “just want to complain about something, and that’s OK… you just listen.”
Finally, a man who gets that being a woman is hard and annoying—and more than ever, that women don’t always need to be saved.
It’s clear that whether things are high or low, Selena can count on Benny.
In a day and age where dating feels chaotic and ghosting is far too normalized, it’s nice to know that there are still people out there who want a genuine partnership.
That’s the foundation, after all. To become a “unit,” as Selena describes, you have to want it—and Benny did. And the internet loves him for it.
Overall, Benny Blanco’s relationship values are not only changing public opinion about him, but they are also making people everywhere rethink about what they should expect and demand from their partners.
And that, in itself, is a positive change we can all appreciate.
