It’s not every day that a global pop superstar confesses her first-ever celebrity crush—but Selena Gomez just dropped that bombshell, and the internet is loving every second of it.
While chatting on the 3’s and Ones podcast, rap legend Ice Cube opened up about hearing years ago that Gomez—yes, Disney darling-turned-chart-topper Selena Gomez—used to have the biggest crush on him as a child.
“A lot of ‘em like me, homie,” Cube said with his signature coolness. “What? What’s up? I heard this years ago. Look, I had my crushes too growing up.”
And fans cannot get enough of this unlikely pop culture connection.
More Read
“Can I Tell You My First Crush?”—Selena Spills the Tea
For Gomez, now 31, the memory of her Ice Cube obsession goes way back to when she was just five years old.
“Can I tell you my first one that I had a crush on? Ice Cube,” Selena confessed in a past interview, laughing. “I had the biggest crush on him when I was, like, 5.”
It’s a revelation that’s both adorable and unexpected—but it also makes perfect sense. Ice Cube’s charisma, deep voice, and commanding screen presence have been making fans swoon for decades.
Cube Responds Like a True OG
Ice Cube wasn’t fazed by Selena’s confession—after all, he’s been a cultural icon for over 30 years. But his response showed that even rap royalty had childhood crushes of their own.
“Look, I had my crushes growing up too,” Cube shared. “Vanity, bring her in here and see what happens. I had about four [childhood crushes].”
Vanity—real name Denise Matthews—was a member of Prince’s girl group Vanity 6 and one of the most magnetic performers of the 1980s. Clearly, Cube has always had an eye for women who leave a lasting impact on pop culture.
Selena’s Other Childhood Obsession: Eminem
Interestingly, Selena Gomez’s other major crush growing up was none other than Eminem.
“One of mine was Eminem only because I grew up listening to him,” she once revealed. “My dad was a DJ, so he would remix all kinds of songs, and every time it was an Eminem song, I would just get so excited.”
Between Ice Cube and Eminem, young Selena had a clear type: edgy, talented, and larger-than-life.
Cube Is Still Crushing It—On and Off the Court
When he’s not melting hearts with stories like these, Ice Cube is staying busy building his legacy.
The hip-hop icon recently celebrated the eighth season of the BIG3, the groundbreaking 3-on-3 pro basketball league he founded.
“We’ve got Hall of Fame coaches,” Cube said in an interview with Back In The Day Hoops. “We definitely don’t want to tempt Rick Barry, Ice Man [George Gervin] to suit up. We’ll let the OGs coach the league and let the players play.”
And that’s exactly what makes BIG3 so special.
“That’s the beautiful thing about the league,” Cube continued. “You get to see people like Dr. J, Nancy Lieberman back in the heat of battle, back wanting to win a game. They can’t play but they can coach their teams. They can show their passion. They can definitely scream at the refs.”
Fans React: “We Need a Selena & Cube Collab!”
As news of Selena’s confession resurfaced online, fans took to social media to share their reactions.
- “Selena Gomez crushing on Ice Cube at 5? That’s so wholesome omg.”
- “Cube’s reaction is so chill—this man is unbothered and legendary.”
- “Imagine if they collabed on a track now… Manifesting!”
Whether or not Selena and Cube ever cross paths creatively, their adorable connection is already a viral moment fans won’t soon forget.
What’s Next for Ice Cube and Selena Gomez?
Cube is focused on expanding BIG3 and continuing his streak as a successful filmmaker and entrepreneur.
Selena, meanwhile, is gearing up for her next music era while juggling her thriving Rare Beauty empire and acting career.
Could there be a collaboration in the future? Fans are already buzzing about the possibility—and with both stars known for surprising their audiences, anything’s possible.
???? What do you think about Selena Gomez crushing on Ice Cube as a kid? And how iconic is Cube’s response? Drop your thoughts below!
???? Stay tuned for more exclusive updates on your favorite stars only on The Pop Radar!
