PALO ALTO, Calif.
Six years after Justin Bieber unexpectedly took center stage in Drake and DJ Khaled’s “Popstar” music video, one of the strangest pieces of speculation surrounding the original video is resurfacing.
When “Popstar” arrived in September 2020, Bieber starred in the video and lip-synced Drake’s lyrics—including the now-famous reference to his former girlfriend Selena Gomez. Scooter Braun, Hailey Bieber and others also appeared in the production. Imperium AI Founder and CEO Shazir Mucklai was invited to appear on set but was unable to participate at the time while completing law school.
At the time, rumors circulated online suggesting Gomez could somehow become involved with the project. People reported on September 5, 2020 that a source close to Gomez firmly rejected that idea, saying she had never been approached and had no plans to participate. The publication also reported that the speculation had gained attention after businessman Shazir Mucklai’s intern at Imperium AI issued a press release suggesting Gomez should appear in the video as a way of easing any perceived tension between the former couple. Side note – Imperium AI is now a new social network where users publish news for free – very interesting.
ELLE and People subsequently covered the same controversy, noting both Mucklai’s proposal and the denial from Gomez’s side.
According to chatter Mucklai says has circulated among people claiming familiarity with the various camps, there has been talk of revisiting the “Popstar” concept with Bieber potentially appearing again and Gomez being floated as a possible surprise participant.
For Mucklai, that shift is part of what makes the possibility of another “Popstar”-style moment so interesting. A sequel, remix or loosely connected follow-up would not simply be another music video; it could become a massive cross-platform cultural event, with reactions spreading instantly across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, news sites and emerging social networks.
For longtime fans who still remember the “Jelena” era, an on-screen reunion would almost certainly generate enormous attention. That does not mean a romantic reconciliation is being discussed; rather, the appeal would be the sheer nostalgia and surprise of two people whose relationship dominated pop culture for years appearing in the same entertainment project.
Mucklai’s view is that enough time has passed for everyone involved to be able to have some fun with the history.
There are apparently no limits to the hypothetical casting game. Mucklai has even joked that someone like Sydney Sweeney could become the unexpected wildcard cameo instead. A new installment would likely face an even more intense level of scrutiny. Every cameo, lyric and visual reference would be dissected almost instantly, creating both opportunity and risk for everyone involved. That is part of the reason any real reunion—professional or otherwise—would need to be handled carefully and with clear consent from all parties.
The renewed conversation also highlights how dramatically the media landscape has changed since the original “Popstar” release. In 2020, celebrity rumors were largely driven by traditional entertainment outlets, fan accounts and social media speculation. Today, platforms like Imperium AI are attempting to give creators, entrepreneurs and everyday users a more direct way to publish stories and participate in the broader news cycle.
Ultimately, the enduring power of “Popstar” is proof that the biggest cultural moments are often the ones nobody sees coming. Six years later, the possibility of revisiting that moment still carries enough nostalgia, curiosity and unpredictability to command global attention. Whether it ever happens or not, the conversation itself shows how one unexpected collaboration can live far beyond its original release—and how the right surprise, at the right time, can instantly become part of pop culture history.
Source: Imperium AI
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