One TikTok user sent showbiz romance rumours whirling over the weekend when she claimed that a pal of hers had been Selena Gomez and Zayn Malik's hostess at a New York restaurant.
News of the pair's alleged dinner date reached every corner of the internet, with the social media source showing text messages exchanged between her and the aforementioned friend.
After revealing that they both worked at popular celebrity jaunts, she shared a screenshot of their WhatsApp conversation, with one message reading, 'Tell me how Selena Gomez and Zayn just walked into [restaurant] hand in hand making out and I seated them.'
TikTok has not been the only breeding ground for rumours of the new A-list relationship. A source echoed the claim to Entertainment Tonight, saying, 'Selena and Zayn went out in SoHo in New York City last night at around 10.30pm. They walked in holding hands and were kissing. Most restaurant staff and restaurantgoers didn't notice them. It seemed like they were comfortable together and it was clear that it was a date.'
While the Wizards of Waverly Place actress, 30, and the ex-One Direction hitmaker, also 30, have not responded to the speculation, there has been much ado about their history.
2013: Selena Names Zayn As The One Direction Member She Would Kiss
During a red carpet appearance, the Lose You to Love Me singer was quizzed about which One Direction member she would most like to lock lips with.
'Oh no...' she briefly pondered, before answering, 'Zayn.'
'There was no hesitation there,' the reporter noted. 'Zayn, you're in!'
In another interview the same year, Selena said Zayn was her 'favourite' because he's 'cute'.
Fans have also been discussing a resurfaced video from the MTV Music Video Awards in 2013, where the One Direction boys presented Selena with the Best Pop Video gong for Come and Get It.
At the time, just one of several comments read, 'Look at Zayn... He's in love with Selena.'
2015: Selena Discusses Zayn's Career: 'I Love Him, He's Awesome'
Chatting to Key 103 Radio in Manchester, Selena was highly complimentary of Zayn and didn't rule out a collaboration with him in the future.
'I know Zayn, so it’s almost like if he would ever want to reach out, he knows that he could. I think that’s so exciting for him to go and figure out what he wants to do [in his solo career], but I don’t know what that is. I think it’ll be pretty exciting but, yes, I love him, he’s awesome.'
2016: Justin Bieber Seemingly Accuses Selena Of Cheating On Him With Zayn
From December 2010 until March 2018, Selena was in an infamously on-off relationship with pop star Justin Bieber.
However, during one of their off periods in 2016, the couple reportedly got into an argument over Instagram pictures Justin shared with rumoured girlfriend Sofia Ritchie. Amid their back-and forth-commentary - which began after Selena said he 'shouldn't be mad' at the fans - she accused her then-ex of 'cheating multiple times'.
According to screenshots shared via Twitter, Justin retaliated, 'I cheated..Oh I forgot about you and Zayn?'
At the time, Zayn had been freshly dating Gigi Hadid - with whom he shares a daughter Khai, two - since late 2015. They split in 2021.
Selena then took to Snapchat, appearing to allude to her comments on Justin's photos. 'What I said was selfish and pointless' she wrote.
2022: Selena Addresses Her Love Life On SNL
After teasing that she heard Saturday Night Live is a 'great place' to find romance, Selena further joked about her love life during her hosting stint.
'I just want to put it out into the universe that I'm manifesting love. I would like to say that I'm looking for my soulmate, but at this point I will take anyone!' she said.
January 2023: Selena Was Linked To Chainsmokers' Member Drew Taggart
Reports that Selena was dating Drew Taggart did the rounds, as photos emerged of them on a date at a bowling alley - where they were alleged to have 'made out' like teenagers - and later holding hands.
March 2023: Zayn Rumours Surface Again
On 15 March, the Disney Channel alum shared a tongue-in-cheek TikTok that her crush 'doesn't exist', penning the caption, 'Still out here looking for him lol'.
Then along came the Zayn rumours on 23 March, which have been strengthened by eagle-eyed fans noticing that the Dusk Till Dawn pop star had recently followed Selena on Instagram (he only follows 18 people) - and she has followed him back.