I know that hardly a day goes by without a mention of omnipresent pop culture couple Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, but today we’ve got a story packed with intrigue and shenanigans! Many of our commenters have remarked that the relationship between the pop/ska princess and the country singing cowboy is about as convincing as the Whitney Houston hologram. Well, you may be onto something, as evidence suggests that Gwake’s PR people may be paying social media influencers to promote them.
The Cut’s Allie Jones put on her Nancy Drew hat when she saw d-list faux celebrities and Instagram-famous individuals posting gushing endorsements for Gwake and their (still awful) single, “Go Ahead and Break My Heart” on Instagram.
What raised the red flag were a pair of posts which sounded like they may have come from somebody’s publicist. The first came from former Bachelor contestant, Becca Tilley. Tilly, who has over 700,000 followers, featured a shot of the couple singing their new duet at Blake’s album release party back on May 9. You can see the performance, if you haven’t had enough of them making goo-goo eyes at each other, below:
This is strange as this happened a few weeks ago and Becca just posted this on Sunday. Becca wrote, “I have a weird obsession with these two right now!! Watching the whole performance for @iheartradio at iheartradio.com/hondastage — heart eyes!!!!’ 😻 @blakeshelton @gwenstefani.” Curious.
Soon afterward, The Hills alum Stephanie Pratt posted another photo from the same event with the same overly excited commentary (and pretty obvious promotional shout-outs), captioning the photo, “Saw these two cuties in concert w @ginaa_a … they are my new fave couple!!” she wrote. “Love 💟 you can watch Blake’s performance at iheartradio.com/hondastage”
If this is true – and there’s been no confirmation or comment from Gwake’s camp, that’s kind of sad, and it does call the authenticity of the relationship into some doubt. Maybe they are in love but have realized what a auditory train wreck the song is. Blake’s still giving us “Aww, shucks,“ telling Entertainment Tonight, “I just like being with her, but when she’s all dolled up and we go places, it’s always fun for me. If she was here right now, not one person here would be looking at anybody else but her. It’s just cool to know that’s who I came here with.” He even wrote the song “A Guy with a Girl” from his new album If I’m Honest for her…that is, if he really is being honest! Blake made an appearance on Ellen recently and, to add more fuel to this latest fire, joked, “The last year of my life has been nuts, it’s been crazy, I just figure if all the magazines are going to cash in on me, I might as well too.” Hmmm…
I get Blake and Gwen doing self-promotion on Instagram, but having third parties publicize their relationship and song is all kinds of tacky. Is anyone else rethinking their stance on these two after these interesting accusations? I have to admit I am – and I like both of them. Sick of them, yes, but I don’t dislike them. I’m very curious to see how this plays out.
Thanks to Jezebel for the tip! Photo credit: Getty Images, WENN.com, Instagram
All Blake seems to care about is that his new piece is pretty. This relationship won’t last six more months.
Anyone that has followed gwens career and music writting knows that gwen would not fake a Romance. She doesnt need to. She also looks the happiest she has in years 🙂 but the haters will always be around…
I don’t think she’s faking it. I think he is though. At first, for him, it was flirting and fun and real. And then quickly not. Because that’s the kind of man he is.
I feel sorry for Gwen. She’s trying to wear less makeup because of him probably. Her husband wanted to see her always fully in make up. She’s STILL contorting herself into someone for a man.
Gwen is an actress who doesn’t know who she is IMO. No shade or disrespect to her, I feel for her because I don’t think she ended up this way deliberately.
Blake…his history … he reminds me of Eddie Cibrian A LOT. I think he’s a leech and an insecure useless tool.
Gwen deserves better. I hope she wakes up soon and realizes it.
I agree. I don’t think they’re faking it. Jesus… I was slightly embarrassed just watching him look at her while singing in the Voice Video.. There’s some serious ‘feels’ going on there.
That was my first thought after reading his comments.
I dunno. Time will tell. I like them, so I hope it isn’t the case.
I like Blake’s music regardless.
It cracks me up how people get bent outta shape because they *know* it’s a PR stunt. Can it not be both? Instead of getting my knickers in a twist, I’m just going to wait and see what happens.
I think it’s nice that my husband thinks I’m pretty. But if he was giving an interview and he said that he enjoys the fact that when we go somewhere everyone is staring at me and that makes him feel good about himself, I would seriously question his feelings for me. (Well, I would also seriously question his grip on reality, but let’s just ignore that for now.) That’s so macho and disgusting. You love me because other people want me and you have me? What about ME? If they stop wanting me will you stop loving me?
+1. But not in Gwen’s world probably. She just wants to be adored so if Blake constantly not only tells her she’s pretty but also notices that other people do want her, that must be like oxygen to this girl
I think that is oxygen to all girls! LOL!
It sounds like a teenage infatuation to say what he did. Looks fade, personality remains.
She does seem to place a lot of emphasis on her appearance, so maybe that is OK with her. But personally, I’d rather have comments about who I am as a person first and foremost.
Then again, I think this is a convenient rebound relationship for both, now weaved with business opportunities.
That comment is SO telling of what kind of a guy this Blake dude is.
Also, it’s one thing to think to yourself “Man, I am so proud to have this woman on my arm” and another thing to say in a very public interview that you love that everyone looks at your girlfriend. It’s just very strange to hear a 40-year-old man admit to being so shallow and I agree with whoever remarked that he sounds like the dork who finally got the hot cheerleader. Bizarre and embarrassing.
In this quote
I just figure if all the magazines are going to cash in on me, I might as well too. I just figure if all the magazines are going to cash in on me, I might as well too.
*************
Is he talking about writing music about his relationship with Gwen or something else.
His comments just seem like he can’t believe he got the Hot Girl.. It would be nice to see them talk about each other in different ways. Gwen talks about how he put her back together. He talks about how she looks. I hope there is more.
I think he was just saying everyone was writing about his breakup and divorce and new relationship, so why not write about it himself. Blake always makes jokey comments like that about everything.
He wrote songs about his breakup, but on the album he was mostly respectful to Miranda and only one song about anger at her regarding the breakup. The others were more melancholy regarding it. And his songs regarding Gwen were about the fear going into a new relationship of being hurt , etc. I thought his album was very tasteful regarding it all.
He has said in interviews that Gwen was the one person who had his back, that he could turn to during his dark times going through all of this, and he never would have expected that nor expected what it turned into, falling in love with each other.
I’ve said it before; not buying these two for a minute. They spend too much time and energy pushing their “We’re so in loooove!” In everybody’s face. It just feels like they are trying to convince everyone they are real rather than just shut up and date.
I agree. In the beginning it is a rush but there’s also a little insecurity and uncertainty whether it will go the distance. Her absolute lack of that (and knowing her history and her insecurities) makes my smutty senses tingle. Especially given his womanizer reputation.
And don’t they have the same PR people? That is always a red flag for me.
they don’t have the same PR people. they are not on the same label, they have different management firms, and different PR people
+1 I don’t know how people can’t see this is beyond fake.
It doesn’t ring as sincere to me because it has been so demonstrative from the start. The REPEATED facetime sessions that just happened to be in front of paps with Gwen’s phone facing away from her was just too much. They are selling their relationship and commodifying it.
The fairy tale ending is obviously just saccharine fiction. Even if they are banging, I bet you it was instigated by their mutual PR agents. They happily went with it to 1) humiliate their exes and 2) other fame whore reasons.
I wouldn’t put it past Gwen to actively participate in this PR. And not just to promote the song. She seems to be stuck in a teenage phrase when you are in love and you want the whole world to know about it and how you are sssooooo in love and so happy. Not to mention rubbing it in your ex’s face every chance you get. So I feel like there is a strong urge on her part to control the narrative which comes also with talking openly about very private things (thank God she is not bragging about their sex life yet). She is an open book: she always writes songs about whatever she is going though in her love life and she never (as far as I recall) complained papparazzi or the privacy. So yeah. I believe this. It’s just sad that a 40somethin woman with 3 kids doesn’t know any better.
Can you imagine what will come out of her when these two break up?
This captures so well my feelings about Gwen. She has always seemed stunted to me like she is forever stuck at age 16. Blake is not even worth my analysis tbh.
OMG, I shudder to think the songs she’ll write when these two break up. Everything you wrote is spot on. Gwen has become so pathetic. Stunted valley girl pushing 50
Whenever a celebrity or non celebrity couple are so in your face regarding their relationship you just know when they breakup it will be just over the top drama/trauma.
Damn, I read the title and was about to jump on the “Get that money!” train and promo them, but then I realised it’s actually people with a decent number of followers on Instagram..
Blake has an unused IG account for with 1 million followers, with all of their money (like $170 Million combined), at least pay someone significant.
I think it’s more of a promotion of the single, not them. That sounds more like Blake’s people pushing views of that performance, as it was the first one ever done of their duet, and his reps were promoting the single for sales with those tweets and to help make the single chart on the Billboard and iTunes charts.
Same. And it’s not uncommon. These people sign up with companies to promote stuff, and companies give them various things. Has nothing to do with Blake and Gwen’s actual relationship.
It’s a PR push for I Heart Radio, not for these two. Some lazy publicist grabbed the easiest pix, wrote some captions, and sent them off to be posted.
Yeah, at first I thought it was Blake’s people pushing the single, but after I posted that above, I thought maybe it’s the IHeart People pushing I Heart Radio. I think you may be right.
I agree.
it’s definitely for IHeart radio streaming a concert, especially as more music is going to streaming.
Blake seems incredibly shallow and only concerned with appearances. Didn’t he say some awful things about Miranda and her body after their break-up? He probably said or felt the same type of comments about his first wife when he left her for Moranda. Gwen is his rebound arm-candy. He’s going to break her heart for real and the fall-out will be sad to watch.
I’ve never seen Blake say anything awful about Miranda’s body. Where did he say something mean?
Her face looks freaky in the bottom pics
Sheesh…leave them alone.
Meh. Sounds like promo for iheartradio to me.
I think this is real AND a PR move.
They both had messy divorces and rebounds can be very emotional and teenager-y. I can totally see them falling into bed after a bender, and just riding the high.
BUT they are milking the relationship for all it’s worth and it’s WORKING. They are on a tabloid cover every! single! week! Before this Gwen was a has-been and Blake had limited appeal outside of country. Some, but not much.
Now they are both going to sell concert tickets like crazy.
And I’m sure once the non-stop media wh*ring stops and they settle into a more regular daily life, this will burn itself out. For now, we are stuck with Gwake.
Isn’t it more likely that iheartradio paid them? I mean, wouldn’t it make more sense for an actual company to shill out advertising? Since people are talking about the relationship anyway, why not use that supposed “hot topic” as the ad itself?
I’m really sick of people trying to create some sketchy narrative for them. They’re just being extra… doesn’t mean it’s out of some PR stunt. He’s always been someone to make sweeping gestures and if you look at her romantic past… she’s just happy to have someone who treats her seemingly well.
Ah, the voice of reason. Nice post.
This. I don’t think this is a flattering look for them at all, but “childish” is all I think it is. 2 adults shoving their love and happiness down everyone’s throat as if they were 14. Immature, but nothing else.
Yeah I don’t find their behavior THAT surprising considering their past public behavior. But I side eye the daylights out of it because she has 3 kids and was SO public about it immediately. There was a little article on msn today about how Gavin and Gwen had a meeting to discuss custody and Blake’s role with the kids and Gavin. Which is actually a subject that would be interesting to hear about. But then it weirdly ended by saying Blake won’t talk to Gavin because he cheated on Gwen (hypocrite much Blake?) and then questioning what Gwen and MIranda’s relationship was. Why on earth would they have one? There are no kids involved on that end. I have to deal with my husband’s ex only because of their child. My husband doesn’t need a relationship with any of my exes!
Never believed for one second that this was real.
I have adored her for years and seeing her fold to the pressure of PR for career has been a downer.
Hmm, his record is number one above Ariana, his concert was 7 or 8 songs that only featured Gwen on one, she hasn’t agreed to release the song as a single, yet yeah, let’s drag Gwen. If Gwen wasn’t the female, like this was Demi Lovato or Ariana, no one would click here and it would be a total non-story.
O RLY????????
I just wanted to say that. Not shocked at all. Completely expected.
I don’t like cutesy couple mashup names in general, but this one in particular makes me want to Gwake all over my shoes.
LOL. I love this comment.
I like Gwen. Always have, still do. I enjoy her music a lot. I like how, despite being a pop star, she experiments and actively tries to be different from the rest, without shoving down our throats how original she is.
Country music isn’t popular at all here, so I only know of Blake what I’ve seen through Gwen. And he seems like a decent, vanilla guy.
They are just childish with the way they show off their love. They make me think of giggly teenagers in a tacky rom com. And they are not teens, they are both grown ass adults with children of their own. They’re too old for this BS.
These two are about as charismatic as a bowl of lukewarm oatmeal. This is the most attention either of them has gotten in years, and they will continue to milk it for as long as there’s z-listers willing to endorse them on IG in exchange for a shiny nickel. Pathetic.
Also…Gwen looks like death on a day pass in that beige dress.
He pulled all the same stunts with his ex-wife before their big split. I’ve never believed their romance was more than a showmance. Her mid-life crisis is one for the books, poor thing.