instagram influencers

Are Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Paying People to Post About Their Relationship?

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani.
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Sometime last year, after they both got divorced from their respective spouses, The Voice judges Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton began dating. In October, a source assured People that the two were “just friends,” but by November, their relationship had officially turned romantic, and the couple confirmed as much to the tabloids. Now, their union has turned profitable: Gwen and Blake released a duet, “Go Ahead and Break My Heart,” at the beginning of May, and they performed it, while staring deep into each other’s eyes, at the Billboard Music Awards last night.

They also performed the song at Blake’s album release party earlier this month, which I only know because I saw some curious posts about it on Instagram yesterday.

Becca Tilley, a popular two-time Bachelor contestant who regularly posts ads for dating apps and teatoxes on Instagram, posted the following:

“I have a weird obsession with these two right now!!” she wrote in the caption. “Watching the whole performance for @iheartradio at iheartradio.com/hondastage — heart eyes!!!!’ 😻 @blakeshelton @gwenstefani”

That is weird. Why is Becca Tilley, a stranger to both Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, posting heart eyes and specific links to Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani performances for all 741,000 of her followers to see? Hmm.

A couple hours later, Stephanie Pratt, another reality TV star and Instagram influencer who got her start on The Hills, posted almost the exact same thing:

“Saw these two cuties in concert w @ginaa_a … they are my new fave couple!!” she wrote. “Love 💟 you can watch Blake’s performance at iheartradio.com/hondastage”

Coincidence? It’s possible that Becca Tilley and Stephanie Pratt, strangers to each other and again, to Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, have the same “new fave couple.” The inclusion of the same, specific link to the performance in each post, however, suggests that the posts were coordinated in some way.

But by whom? And why? There are several brands mentioned in each post: Honda, I Heart Radio, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, the relationship of Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. Any of these parties and/or their representatives could be responsible for convincing Instagram influencers Becca Tilley and Stephanie Pratt to post about Gwen and Blake. The message of the (potential) ads is clear, though: Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are baes and goals and heart eyes! Click here, millennials.

We reached out to reps for Gwen and Blake about the posts and will update if we hear back. You can watch the couple’s highly recommended performance below.

What Are Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Doing?