At a Glance
- Hailey Bieber joined the viral 2016 Instagram trend on January 16
- Her carousel featured a beachside make-out photo with Justin Bieber
- Additional slides showed her with Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner
- Why it matters: The post revives memories of the couple’s dramatic 2016 breakup and reunion that led to their 2018 marriage
Hailey Bieber revived memories of her early romance with Justin Bieber by posting a 2016 throwback carousel that captures both their passionate moments and the social circle that defined the era.
The Viral 2016 Trend
The trend surged after midnight on New Year’s Day, with users tagging #2016 on TikTok, a hashtag that now totals 1.7 million posts. Participants share decade-old photos and videos, filters intact, to express longing for what many call a simpler time.
Inside Hailey’s Carousel
On Friday, Jan. 16, the 29-year-old model uploaded a series of nostalgic slides. The sixth photo drew the most attention: she and the 31-year-old pop star kissing against a beach sunset, palms silhouetted behind them. The caption read simply, “you just had to be there.”
Other images featured:
- Bella Hadid posing beside her
- Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner in candid shots
- A selfie showing Hailey’s once-pink hair
2016: A Pivotal Year
Their relationship timeline traces back to a 2009 Today show meeting. Romance rumors ignited in 2014, and by 2016 the pair were frequently photographed together.
In a GQ cover story that year, Justin voiced hesitation about commitment:
> “What if Hailey ends up being the girl I’m gonna marry, right? If I rush into anything, if I damage her, then it’s always gonna be damaged. It’s really hard to fix wounds like that. It’s so hard … I just don’t want to hurt her.”
Hailey confirmed their non-exclusive status to E! News:
> “Relationships at this age are already complicated, but I don’t really like to talk about it because it’s between me and him.”
The Dramatic Split
Weeks after the interview, the couple broke up. Hailey later told Vogue:
> “Negative things happened that we still need to talk about and work through. ‘Fizzled’ would not be the right word – it was more like a very dramatic excommunication… There was a period where if I walked into a room, he would walk out.”
Reunion to Marriage
They reconciled in 2018. Justin proposed in July, and they wed in September. In August 2024, they welcomed son Jack Blues Bieber.
A source told News Of Los Angeles that Jack “shaped the heart” of Justin’s seventh studio album, SWAG, which features lyrics praising Hailey:
> “That’s my baby, she’s iconic / iPhone case, lip gloss on it.”
Key Takeaways
- The 2016 throwback trend has swept TikTok, amassing 1.7 million posts
- Hailey’s post reunited images of her early romance and model friendships
- The couple’s 2016 breakup was, in her words, a “very dramatic excommunication”
- They rebuilt their relationship, marrying in 2018 and becoming parents in 2024
