Pop Stars Who Faked Highly Publicized Relationships Just to Sell Albums

For years, the music industry has used the personal lives of famous artists to boost sales and stay in the public eye. Record labels or the artists themselves often create or promote relationships – sometimes called “PR relationships” – to get attention, especially when new music or tours are coming out. These pairings help keep the artist in the news and relevant in pop culture. Sometimes these relationships are later revealed as being fake, while others remain a mystery that fans and industry experts continue to discuss.

Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello started dating soon after their 2019 song ‘Señorita’ became popular. Pictures of them together were everywhere, and some people thought their relationship was created to help promote the song. Although they dated for two years, many in the music industry believed the timing boosted both of their careers. Throughout the release of their individual albums, they were constantly featured in entertainment news due to their very public displays of affection.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s brief romance with Tom Hiddleston in 2016, quickly nicknamed “Hiddleswift,” happened as she was publicly changing her image. They were photographed a lot, often in what seemed like planned situations, like a Fourth of July party where Hiddleston wore a specially made tank top. Some people believed the relationship was a way to take attention away from Swift’s public disagreements with others and keep her in the news during a quieter period. The relationship ended quickly, right as the summer news cycle slowed down.

Selena Gomez

When promoting their 2015 song ‘I Want You To Know,’ pop star Selena Gomez and producer Zedd were often seen together. Later, producer Diplo suggested their relationship was actually a planned marketing tactic by their record labels to boost the song’s sales. Gomez clarified that despite the promotion, they did share a real connection. However, the relationship ended soon after the song’s popularity on the Billboard charts died down.

Drake

In late 2016, rapper Drake and Jennifer Lopez fueled dating rumors after sharing affectionate photos online. This happened while they were working on music and preparing for their own individual projects. Many believed the romance was a way to generate buzz for a potential song they never actually released. Once the excitement around their work died down, the relationship quickly ended.

Harry Styles

Taylor Swift and Harry Styles briefly dated in late 2012, creating a huge buzz in the media. Both were at the height of their careers – Swift was promoting her album ‘Red,’ and Styles was touring with One Direction for ‘Take Me Home.’ Their New Year’s Eve kiss in Times Square was all anyone talked about, trending worldwide. Some people in the music industry believed the relationship was strategically timed to help both artists reach a wider audience during the busy holiday shopping season.

Ariana Grande

This singer started dating Big Sean while promoting her second album, ‘My Everything,’ which included their song ‘Best Mistake.’ They both used their public relationship to help sell their albums – hers, ‘My Everything,’ and his, ‘Dark Sky Paradise’ – with carefully planned social media posts and appearances. They broke up soon after both albums had finished their promotional runs and sales had leveled off.

Justin Bieber

Throughout his years with Selena Gomez, whenever they got back together, it often happened around important moments in his career. It seemed like photos of them together would appear just before he released a new song or a documentary. Some people who’ve worked with him and music critics have suggested this happened on purpose – to create excitement around his music. Their relationship always got a lot of attention on social media, which helped boost streams and views of his new songs.

Rita Ora

Rita Ora’s second album was closely linked to her relationship with Calvin Harris, who produced her popular song ‘I Will Never Let You Down.’ As the song became a hit, both artists gained more public attention. After they broke up, Harris allegedly prevented Ora from performing the song on TV, showing how much their work together was tied to their personal relationship. The publicity surrounding their breakup actually ended up promoting both of their careers as much as the relationship itself had.

Gwen Stefani

Okay, so Blake and I actually met while we were both going through really public divorces, right on the set of ‘The Voice’. It was crazy how much of our relationship ended up in our music – my album ‘This Is What the Truth Feels Like’ and Blake’s ‘If I’m Honest’ were basically soundtracks to us falling for each other. The timing was wild, too – our singles and duets just fit with what was happening in our lives. Honestly, the whole ‘finding love again’ story really resonated with people, and I think it definitely helped both our albums and kept everyone glued to ‘The Voice’!

Demi Lovato

Disney heavily promoted the relationship between Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas, her ‘Camp Rock’ co-star, especially when advertising ‘Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam’. They were featured in magazines and performed together to generate excitement for the movie’s music. Lovato later revealed the relationship only lasted a few weeks, despite the significant attention from Disney. Many believed the pairing was strategically created to appeal to fans who wanted to see them together as a couple during the film’s release.

Lady Gaga

Though they were never actually a couple, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper played up romantic rumors during the 2018 awards season while promoting ‘A Star Is Born’. Their close performance at the Oscars was intentionally designed to boost interest in the film’s music and digital downloads. Gaga later admitted they deliberately led the public to believe they were in love to help with the movie’s marketing. This tactic kept the soundtrack at the top of the charts for weeks after the awards show.

Katy Perry

In 2013, the singer and John Mayer released the romantic duet ‘Who You Love,’ along with a popular music video and album art. Their relationship became a central part of the promotion for both Mayer’s ‘Paradise Valley’ and the singer’s ‘Prism’ album. They often appeared on morning television shows, where the focus was more on their connection than on their music. This relationship helped to show a more personal side of both artists as they navigated changes in their careers.

Liam Payne

After leaving One Direction, Liam Payne’s relationship with Cheryl became a key part of how he presented himself to the public. Their appearances at events like the Global Gift Gala kept him in the news as he moved away from being known as a boy band member. Many people thought the relationship was a way to appeal to both of their different groups of fans in the UK. The couple announced their breakup soon after Payne’s initial success with his first album began to fade.

Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik’s first solo single, ‘Pillowtalk,’ featured model Gigi Hadid in its music video, helping to launch his career as a solo artist after leaving his band. Their relationship was prominently displayed in magazines like ‘Vogue’ to support the image he was creating for his album, ‘Mind of Mine.’ This combination of music and fashion successfully brought a lot of attention to his new direction as a solo artist, especially during a busy time for new releases. It was a perfect example of how a celebrity relationship can be used to change how the public sees a musician.

Miley Cyrus

After her public divorce, Miley Cyrus began dating Cody Simpson, and their relationship was heavily featured on Instagram as she transitioned to a more rock-focused sound. They frequently shared matching content online, keeping fans interested in her social media and building excitement for her new music. Simpson even released a song inspired by Cyrus, which gained popularity thanks to their combined attention. The relationship ended as Cyrus’s album ‘Plastic Hearts’ began to gain traction.

We’re curious to know which of these celebrity couples you believe was created purely for publicity. Let us know in the comments!

2026-03-17 01:16