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Selena Gomez Opens Up About Why She Can’t Escape Justin Bieber, Taking Off Her Purity Ring

Selena Gomez: Being Associated With Bieber Is "Difficult,"
Selena Gomez says it's "difficult for people to separate" her from ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber; plus, why she doesn't wear a purity ring anymore

Selena Gomez has moved on from her relationship with Justin Bieber, even if the rest of the world hasn’t. Speaking about her ex in a new interview with the UK’s Sunday Times, the “Good for You” singer reflected back on their years-long on-again, off-again romance, which ended for good at the end of 2014 but still follows her around in public. 

Related: PHOTOS: Selena and Justin, the way they were

“It’s difficult for people to separate us,” the former Disney star, 23, admitted of the “Heartbreaker” crooner, 21, whom she first began dating in 2011. “The Internet wants to freeze this moment in time and constantly repeat it.”

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber
Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber arrive at the 2011 American Music Awards.

Indeed, some fans of the ex-couple, nicknamed Jelena by shippers, still hold out hope that they’ll find their way back to each other. But Gomez told the Times she doesn’t “really want anything right now” — with anyone.

Given the scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Bieber, that’s not exactly a surprise. “I didn’t think I was doing anything bad by falling in love,” she said of the focus on their breakups and makeups. “There’s such an emphasis on people being the perfect thing and then destroying them because it’s good press. Also throw in the fact that you are a teenager — it makes it more difficult.”

Related: PHOTOS: On-again, off-again couples

Bieber isn’t Gomez’s only famous ex-boyfriend, either. The Spring Breakers actress also dated fellow Disney alum Nick Jonas when she was younger. At the time, both stars wore purity rings; now, neither does. (Jonas, who split from Olivia Culpo earlier this year, opened up about taking his ring off in an interview with HuffPost Live in 2014.)

“I’m not embarrassed to say that,” Gomez said of having worn a purity ring. “I’m also not embarrassed to say that the ring has come off. I got it when I was 13 and I respect so much what it represented, but it isn’t for everyone.”

Related: PHOTOS: Selena Gomez through the years

Gomez has certainly grown up a lot since she rose to mega fame on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place. But one thing that hasn’t changed is her friendship with fellow superstar Taylor Swift.

“I can count on one hand the people I could call and who would be there for me. Taylor is one of the greatest people,” Gomez told the Sunday Times of the “Wildest Dreams” singer, 25, whose growing girl squad also includes Karlie Kloss, Lena Dunham, Cara Delevingne, Hailee Steinfeld, and Gigi Hadid. (Gomez starred alongside all five ladies, and many others, in Swift’s “Bad Blood” video this past May.)

Related: PHOTOS: Taylor Swift's BFFs

“When I split up with my first boyfriend [Nick Jonas] and I was really sad about it, she flew into town with homemade cookies and a bunch of junk food,” Gomez recalled. “To this day, if I called her, she would do the same thing, despite being one of the busiest people in the world.”

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