Why Selena Gomez 'Avoided' Hailey Bieber At Vanity Fair Oscar Party Amid Justin Bieber Marriage Rumors

Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber both appeared at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday and oddly wore similar strapless gowns with their hair down as they posed on the carpet.

However, they seemingly kept each other at arm's length, with a source confirming that the billionaire singer "avoided" Hailey because she didn't want any "awkward photo" to surface.

Hailey Bieber and her husband, Justin Bieber, who was Selena Gomez's ex, are rumored to be going through some marital troubles, and Gomez's name has surfaced as a likely cause of their alleged issue.

Selena Gomez seemingly gave Hailey Bieber the cold shoulder as they both attended the Vanity Fair Oscar party in L.A. on Sunday.

At the event, Gomez glowed in a strapless midnight blue Giorgio Armani Privé column dress with her fiancé, Benny Blanco, by her side.

On the other hand, Hailey turned up for the event in a custom black Saint Laurent column gown with a bow adornment and accessorized with Tiffany & Co. jewelry.

However, she wasn't with her husband, Justin Bieber, further fueling rumors about their marriage due to recent public outings that raised eyebrows.

A source told the Daily Mail that Gomez "avoided" Hailey because she didn't want any "awkward photo," but would be okay saying hello to her if their path crossed.

"There was no way Selena wanted an awkward photo and for everyone to write about it the next day," the source said. "It was her night; she was a presenter at the Oscars for Emilia Perez, a film she is proud of, so she wanted the focus on that."

They continued, "If they ran into each other, she would say hello, of course, because Selena is a friendly person. She just wanted to avoid being photographed with her or near her because then 100 stories are born."

"Selena took a picture with Hailey in the past and it didn't feel right," the insider added.

A photo of them together would definitely have been awkward, especially after rumors surfaced suggesting that Gomez could be linked to Hailey's alleged marital woe with Justin.

Although the Rhode Skincare founder and the "Sorry" hitmaker welcomed their first son Jack Blues in August, they have been hit with rumors of a potential split, especially after Justin briefly unfollowed her on Instagram only to claim he'd been "hacked."

A source told the Daily Mail that their marriage could be haunted by the ghost of Justin's past love with Gomez, whom he dated on and off between 2010 and 2018 before calling it quits.

The insider explained that Justin had "mixed feelings" about Gomez and Blanco's engagement as he once considered Blanco one of his "closest friends."

"[Justin] confided in Benny about his heartbreak over Selena," the source added. "In a way, Justin felt betrayed [over the engagement], even though he knew he had no right to feel that way."

Hailey's solo appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscar party comes one day after Justin turned 31. Despite the swirling rumors, she was featured in his Instagram birthday post, suggesting they may be on the mend.

The "Never Say Never" singer had sparked concerns from fans when he was seen looking disheveled and untidy in some recent public appearances, with many speculating that he was "doing drugs."

However, a rep for the singer recently told TMZ that the rumors are "absolutely not true," adding that Justin is starting to feel drained by the rumors and that he is struggling with his mental and physical health.

"The recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is absolutely not true," the rep told the news outlet, adding that his client is actually "in one of the best places in his life."

The rep also addressed rumors that Hailey and Justin's marriage could be heading to Splitsville, explaining that the "Peaches" singer is focused on "actively parenting his newborn son" with her and is working on making new music.

In his birthday carousel on Instagram, Justin gave fans a glimpse at their baby boy, whose face they have kept private since his birth.

The source then explained that he has endured a "very transformative" past year, in which "he ended several close friendships and business relationships that no longer served him," adding that his gaunt look was the result of restless nights "caring for his son who was having trouble falling asleep as well."

The insider added that the rumors about Justin's mental and physical health are "exhausting and pitiful and shows that despite the obvious truth, people are committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive."