Music producer Benny Blanco has explained how he won over pop star Selena Gomez, insisting there was no elaborate strategy behind the romance. Speaking on TODAY on 13 September while promoting his forthcoming book, F–k Failure, the 12-time Grammy nominee said simply being kind and maintaining open communication was what drew Gomez to him, rather than any grand gesture or trick.

Blanco recalled that their first date came as a surprise to him, as the pair had already been collaborating professionally before a dinner turned romantic without his initial realisation. The couple went on to marry and are approaching their first wedding anniversary. The interview also touched on Blanco's career, from beginning as a teenage rapper in Virginia to producing hits for artists including Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Katy Perry, with Blanco crediting persistence and creating a comfortable creative environment, alongside advice from Sheeran, as key to his success.