Selena Gomez reveals unlikely childhood crush - and it wasn’t a pop star

Selena Gomez recently took a nostalgic trip down memory lane during her appearance on GOAT Talk, a YouTube series by Complex, where she was joined by fellow singer Karol G. While discussing their all-time favorites, the Only Murders in the Building star shared a surprising revelation - her first-ever celebrity crush was none other than rapper and actor Ice Cube.

“When I was about five, I had the biggest crush on Ice Cube,” Selena admitted, laughing. “It’s so random, but I always felt like he could protect me. That was enough for my childhood self.” She didn’t clarify whether her admiration stemmed from his music or his film roles, like in Barbershop or Are We There Yet?, but it’s clear the West Coast icon left a lasting impression.

Gomez, also opened up about another artist who played a major role in her early music memories: Eminem. “My dad was a DJ and constantly made remixes - especially with Eminem. I’d get so excited every time he played one,” she said.

Karol G, in turn, named Eminem as her GOAT rapper while growing up, and chose Nicki Minaj for today’s generation.

Outside of her nostalgic confessions, Gomez briefly touched on her current relationship with producer Benny Blanco. The couple recently released a 26-track collaborative album I Said I Love You First… And You Said It Back, featuring artists like GloRilla, J Balvin, Gracie Abrams, and The Marías.