Timing is a funny thing in Hollywood. One minute you're the internet’s favorite "it" couple, and the next, you’re the subject of a chart-topping revenge anthem that everyone is screaming in their cars. If you’ve been on TikTok at any point in the last two years, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The saga of Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes is basically the Roman Empire for pop music fans. It was brief. It was messy. And honestly, it changed the trajectory of both their careers in ways we’re still seeing today.
But what actually happened? Was it a full-blown relationship or just a "situationship" that got out of hand? To understand the current state of things in 2026, we have to look back at that chaotic window in early 2023 when the world first saw them together.
The Walk That Started a Firestorm
It all kicked off in February 2023. A grainy photo surfaced of Shawn and Sabrina walking through Los Angeles. No PDA, no hand-holding—just two very famous people in sweatpants. But for the internet, that was enough.
The gossip account DeuxMoi started getting tips about them looking "verrry comfortable" at a restaurant called Horses. Then came the Miley Cyrus Endless Summer Vacation release party. They didn't just attend; they left in the same car. Shawn, ever the gentleman, was caught on camera twirling his phone and opening the car door for her.
By mid-March, Entertainment Tonight dropped the "confirmation" everyone was waiting for. A source claimed they were seeing each other and keeping it low-key. For a few weeks, it felt like the start of a new era.
Then came the "denial."
While promoting a Tommy Hilfiger collab on a Dutch TV show, Shawn was asked point-blank about the rumors. His response? "We are not dating." He even joked that they should talk about Tommy Hilfiger more than Sabrina.
The Coachella Pivot
If the denial was the first red flag, Coachella 2023 was the finish line. Just weeks after being spotted with Sabrina, Shawn was caught on video in a full-on embrace with his ex-girlfriend, Camila Cabello, in the middle of the desert.
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It was the "reunion" nobody (or maybe everybody?) saw coming.
This is where the timeline gets blurry and, frankly, a bit painful if you’re a Sabrina fan. While Shawn and Camila’s rekindled flame only lasted a few months—fizzling out again by June 2023—the damage to the "Shawnbrina" narrative was done.
Shawn eventually admitted the reality of this period during a 2024 interview with John Mayer. He talked about being an impulsive person and how he reconnected with an ex while he was already with "someone else." He didn't say Sabrina's name, but he didn't have to. He confessed that "no one gets out of this life without hurting someone."
Reading Between the Lyrics
Sabrina Carpenter isn't the type to release a notes-app statement. She releases albums. When Short n' Sweet dropped in late 2024, it was like a forensic map of the Shawn Mendes drama.
Take the song "Taste." The lyrics are brutal: "I heard you're back together and if that's true / You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you." It’s not just a catchy hook. It’s a direct reference to the "overlap" that fans had suspected for over a year. Then you have "Coincidence," where she literally mentions someone driving from L.A. to Palm Springs (the Coachella location) to be with someone else.
She wasn't just sad; she was sharp.
Why This Mattered for Sabrina's Career
Before the Shawn rumors, Sabrina was a successful pop star. After the Shawn rumors (and the music that followed), she became a superstar.
- The Narrative Shift: She moved from the "Disney girl" image into a witty, slightly cynical, and deeply relatable songwriter.
- The "Espresso" Effect: The confidence found in Short n' Sweet was born from the wreckage of that 2023 drama.
- Creative Growth: She turned a public "L" into a Grammy-winning era.
Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Update)
Fast forward to early 2026, and the dust has finally settled. If you're looking for a reconciliation, don't hold your breath.
Shawn Mendes has officially moved on. Just this month, in January 2026, he was spotted in Los Angeles looking very domestic with Brazilian actress Bruna Marquezine. They’ve been seen doing grocery runs and packing on the PDA, marking his first serious public relationship since the Camila/Sabrina whirlwind.
As for Sabrina? She’s currently living her best single life. After a high-profile year-long relationship with actor Barry Keoghan ended in late 2024, she’s been focusing on her global tour. Rumors of a "mystery man" in the UK popped up recently, but she hasn't confirmed a thing.
The most interesting part? Sabrina and Shawn reportedly still follow each other on Instagram. There’s no "beef" in the traditional sense—just the kind of distance that only comes after you’ve processed everything through a 12-track album.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the ever-changing world of pop star relationships, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the "Source" Language: When outlets like People or ET use terms like "hanging out" or "seeing where it goes," it usually means the relationship hasn't reached the "exclusive" talk yet.
- Look at the Tour Schedules: Relationships in this industry often fail because of geography. Sabrina and Shawn were both at peak career moments in 2023, which is a recipe for a "fizzle."
- The Music Tells the Truth: Publicists are paid to keep things "clean." Songwriters are paid to tell the truth. If you want to know what happened between two artists, wait for the bridge of the third track.
The lesson here is simple: celebrity relationships are often a "right person, wrong time" situation. Or, in this case, the right people, but the wrong Coachella weekend.
Next Steps: To see how this drama influenced the charts, you can check out the Short n' Sweet tracklist and compare the release dates to Shawn’s 2024 singles "Why Why Why" and "Isn't That Enough," which offer his side of the emotional fallout.