July 2020 proved that, for younger millennials who grew up on the Disney Channel, their former teen idols have all grown up. Joe Jonas welcomed his first child, Demi Lovato engaged her, and Selena Gomez turned 28. The last two events happened even on the same day, although neither of the public congratulations.
That’s because Lovato and Gomez, once self-proclaimed best friends, are no longer as close as they once were. But the internet is full of nostalgic images and videos of the former pals. Here are just a few of them.
‘Barney & Friends’
Lovato and Gomez first met as children in 1999. They appeared on the PBS children’s series Barney and friends, where Lovato was known as Angela and Gomez as Gianna. The actors stayed on the show in 2004. Years later, Lovato told People that Gomez was immediately her ‘favorite’, calling her her ‘best friend’. ‘
On Gomez’s 28th birthday, Texas radio host DJ Billy de Kidd shared a photo of Lovato and Gomez when they were “about 11” and met singer Ashlee Simpson. He wrote, “Selena and Demi ARE SO HAPPY and fangirling so hard. It was the most beautiful. Little did they know in a few years time that THEY were the ones selling arenas and millions of people would hate them! “
Disney Channel day
No. Barney and friends, Gomez moved to Los Angeles, where she began working on the Disney Channel. Lovato soon followed, and also became a contestant on the network. Although they mostly starred in their separate shows, there was some overlap, with Gomez appearing in an episode of Lovato’s series Sonny with a chance as themselves.
They also starred in a Disney Channel Original Movie, Princess protection program, together. During this time, Lovato and Gomez appeared closer than ever. In addition to doing press (in which they talked about their friendship) and performing together on screen, they made their own YouTube videos, thereby taking their lives off.
Continuing friendship
RELATED: Did Demi Lovato just confirm that she and Selena Gomez are no longer friends?
The initial failure of their friendship came shortly before Lovato left the Disney Channel when rumors spread that Gomez had grown closer to Taylor Swift. They were seen together in 2011, and Lovato tweeted about them going to dinner together. This has gone on and on through the years.
While both are asked about their friendship, they tend to let their interactions on social media do the talking. In 2013, Gomez shared Instagram posts with Lovato: One of a FaceTime (Swift was involved here as well) and one she added, ‘It’s just proof of forever. Anyway. ‘
But that has not exactly been the case. In 2017, they reunited at the InStyle Awards, but that’s the last time they were seen in the same place. In 2020, Lovato told Harper’s Bazaar that they “are no longer friends.” Unless a major shift comes again, fans may have these old photos and clips just to remind themselves of what once was.
