Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez Avoid iHeartRadio Music Awards Encounter Due To Charlie Puth & Kourtney Kardashian?

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez seemed to be signaling to Jelena fans that they were rekindling their romance in recent weeks. After he posted a passionate picture showing them locking lips, Selena responded to the throwback photo by praising it as “perfect.” And when Gomez showed up at the pop idol’s concert recently, Jelena fans were convinced that it was a reason for joy. But now their iHeartRadio Music Awards Close Encounter of the Non-Existent Kind is causing confusion for both Selena fans and Beliebers in their romance, pointed out ET.

It was a celebration for fans anyway, with Gomez enthusiasts seeking to cheer louder than the Beliebers, and everyone screaming happily at the sight of their idols. But when it comes to rekindling hopes that Jelena is back in town, confusion reigned.

An observer at the iHeartRadio Music Awards watched what happened to make it even more unclear whether the lovebirds are cooing at each other or have ruffled feathers. Taking place backstage at The Forum in Inglewood, California, the situation began when Selena was headed off for photos during the show, the eyewitness revealed to ET.

And then it happened. Justin walked past Gomez and completely ignored her, and Selena passed by without a sign that she was heeding his presence as well. However, the observer also noticed that Gomez changed her mind and halted her visit with the press, which would have required her to go upstairs and possibly encounter the Biebs again.

If that scene was the only one, it would be clear that Jelena is no more. However, the night wasn’t over. And when her former beau won Male Artist of the Year, Selena beamed proudly, standing up to join in the standing ovation.

But adding to the confusion, Gomez wasn’t even present when Bieber performed two songs at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. The ever-present cameras filming the ceremony showed the table where Selena was supposed to be sitting, but she was absent, revealed Hollywood Life.

Only after he finished singing did Gomez appear. Where was she, and why did the off-again-on-again couple decide to avoid each other when, late last month, they had that romantic encounter at his concert? An insider told Hollywood Life that Selena had even planned to see him at the music awards.

“Selena…always gets excited when she knows she’s going to see him. The sparks are always there despite time and distance…If she can just spend some quality time with him after the show, that would be even better than a quick exchange backstage.”

But something went wrong. Was it because of Gomez, who has been hooking up with Charlie Puth, according to recent reports, or the Biebs, who has had an off-again-on-again relationship with Kourtney Kardashian?

Bieber reportedly was upset when he learned that Selena had been enjoying a secret romance with Charlie, according to Hollywood Life’s source.

“Justin hates the rumors of a Charlie and Selena relationship and he has been blowing up her phone trying to talk to her about it,” revealed the source.

Gomez reportedly is into her flirtation with Puth, but neither is confirming that anything romantic actually has happened.

Charlie explained that although he and Selena worked together on a song, it’s a musical collaboration rather a romance, noted ET. And when questioned further about any type of hookup with Gomez, Puth confessed that he wanted to avoid answering directly.

“I’m trying to evade the question [about dating Selena]. We’re friends, and I’m very happy to have collaborated with her. I’m going on tour with her. She’s gracious enough to let me come on a couple dates with her.”

Of course, the word “dates” was enough to cause more speculation, with one interviewer even pointing to the term and teasing Puth.

“He said dates,” pounced the questioner.

While Charlie tried to figure out a way to describe his relationship with Gomez, Selena reportedly has her own concerns. And those worries have to do with all the other hookups that her former boyfriend has been heating up, according to Hollywood Life.

Does a love triangle exist involving Kourtney Kardashian, Gomez, and the Biebs? Just after the pop idol serenaded Selena at a hotel in Beverly Hills, he hooked up with Kourtney.

Gomez allegedly was so upset that she called Kardashian on it. Since then, Selena and Kourtney have avoided encountering each other. Adding to the confused relationship status, Justin has enjoyed an off-again-on-again romance with Hailey Baldwin.

However, a mere 24 hours after posting that passionate picture, in which he locked lips with Gomez, the Biebs hooked up again with Kardashian. Has Jelena been replaced with Jourtney?

[Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for iHeartRadio/Turner]