It doesn’t matter if it’s a housewarming, a birthday party, or a holiday, the perfect way to cap off any special moment is always with food. The ideal night out with friends always ends with an order of greasy fast-food, a wedding celebrated with a reception full of lavish desserts that might just be more memorable than the ceremony itself, and for singer, actress and entrepreneur Selena Gomez, a dream proposal is topped off with a Taco Bell picnic.
Gomez announced her engagement to producer Benny Blanco on Wednesday, December 11 with an adorable carousel of Instagram photos, which she captioned “forever begins now …”. While the first photo showcased the stunning ring perfectly placed on Gomez’s left ring finger, the second slide featured her in her true element: sitting on a picnic blanket surrounded by a spread of boxes featuring the Taco Bell logo. Gomez’s smile exudes excitement, and you have to wonder if it’s because of the best drunchies ever, the diamond ring she’s admiring, or her new engagement.
While Taco Bell might seem like a random, underwhelming entree to have on such a special day, the fast food franchise has played a large role in Blanco and Gomez’s love story, which began in 2023. According to Blanco, their date nights are a mix of simple nights in munching on some fast-food and dolled-up dinners out where the two are ready to hit the town, and the couple always adds a Taco Bell menu to their Valentine’s Day festivities.
“She also likes something so simple,” Blanco told People Magazine in his Sexiest Man Alive interview. “For Valentine’s Day, I got her Taco Bell, I made her movie theatre nachos, I found her favorite pickles from Texas, and I deep-fried them for her.”
Gomez’s love of Taco Bell runs almost as deep as her love for her fiance – so much so that she even captioned a November 2024 Instagram Story featuring Blanco with “Not only do you love me unconditionally … You always get me my Taco Bell Mexican pizza.” She made sure to remind fans of both of her true loves: Blanco and “the Bell.”
Before Gomez said “yes” to this picture-perfect proposal, Blanco allegedly proved himself to the actress by learning to chef up the trademark meat from Taco Bell at home. After hours of practicing and perfecting his technique, Blanco assured People Magazine that “I think it’s pretty indistinguishable now if you put them side by side.” Blanco explained that the process of making the Taco Bell meat is lengthy, “somewhat disgusting,” but also so delicious and worth it for his lady.
Beyond the Taco Bell recreations, it’s apparent that both musicians love to go all-out for each other to express their love. Blanco recounted a time when Gomez rented out an entire botanical garden for a whimsical date night (perhaps the inspiration for the garden-esque proposal sound set?), followed by the memory of beginning their Valentine’s Day Taco Bell tradition.
Love can be shown in a multitude of ways, through acts of service, quality time, and of course byway of a Taco Bell feast. Next time you go to plan a memorable event for that special person in your life, be like Blanco, and don’t skimp on the spread.