Benny Blanco Says Being Nice Won Over Selena Gomez, and His First Date Story Is Even Better

Benny Blanco stopped by TODAY and shared the kind of love story that makes you believe in the simple stuff again. Asked how he won over Selena Gomez, the producer and 12-time Grammy nominee kept it plain: he was just nice. No games, no tricks, no elaborate plan. Kindness and open communication did the heavy lifting.

The couple’s origin story has a twist, too. Their first date was a surprise to Blanco, who didn’t realize at the time that it was a date at all. Fast forward, and the two are closing in on their first wedding anniversary, a milestone most fans have been cheering for since the beginning.

Blanco is also promoting his new book, F–k Failure, which makes the case that mistakes are teachers, not endings. It’s a philosophy that clearly runs through his work, from collaborations with Ed Sheeran and Rihanna to his marriage. Kindness, persistence, and showing up. That’s the whole playbook.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten about love or about bouncing back from a mistake? Drop it in the comments and we might share it on air.