Why does Benny Blanco call Selena Gomez 'Salami'? Funny reason explained

Benny Blanco appeared on the April 30, 2025, episode of the Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware podcast. He explained that he saved Selena Gomez’s contact under “Salami” as a playful disguise to guard their budding romance from prying eyes.

He admitted, “I made her salami,”

He noted that the nickname still stands today. This choice reveals their shared sense of humor and the couple’s desire to strike a balance between privacy and public attention.

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How a food-themed alias kept their early relationship private

When Benny and Selena began dating in mid-2023, they wanted to keep much of their courtship out of the spotlight.

Blanco said on Table Manners, “I called you Sel today. In my phone—because I didn’t want anyone to be over my shoulder looking—I made her salami”.

By choosing a lighthearted, food-related name, he ensured that if anyone glanced at his screen, they’d see “Salami” instead of the actress-singer’s real name. Despite their subsequent engagement announcement in December 2024, Blanco has left the contact unchanged as a reminder of a shared inside joke between them.

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What their nickname choice shows about their bond

Opting for “Salami” rather than a conventional nickname shows Blanco’s laid-back character and the couple’s comfort with playful banter. As Selena put it, she sometimes hears “Sel” when he calls, but “Salami” remains the permanent label in his phone.

This nickname indicates how they’ve woven small, private moments into their public narrative. Beyond “Salami,” Gomez refers to Blanco as “babe,” “love,” or “honey.”

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Timeline of their friendship turning into romance

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco first met in 2013 through Gomez’s mother and collaborated on songs such as “Same Old Love” and “Kill Em With Kindness” for her Revival album. Although they remained friends for years, their romantic relationship only began in June 2023.

Gomez confirmed their pairing publicly in December of that year via Instagram comments. Exactly one year later, they announced their engagement, marking a milestone that led to candid interviews and, ultimately, the “Salami” revelation.

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Insights shared on the podcast beyond the nickname

On the same episode where “Salami” was discussed, the couple also talked about their first official kiss.

Blanco recounted, “We were playing ‘We’re Not Really Strangers’… and I just looked at her and I said, ‘I gotta kiss this girl,’ then I kissed her right away”.

Gomez admitted afterwards that she “hadn’t liked anyone in a very long time,” which made that moment especially meaningful. They even teased wedding plans, suggesting they might skip a traditional first dance, though they will honor Blanco’s Jewish heritage with a hora.

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Why “Salami” perfectly fits their story

Nicknames spring from personal anecdotes, and “Salami” covers the couple’s desire for discretion mixed with humor. It’s not about grandeur; it’s a small, everyday choice that has endured through studio sessions, red-carpet events, and planning their life together.

As Blanco said, “It’s still her contact name to this day,”

Reminding fans that even celebrities cherish simple, private jokes. This little slice of their relationship offers a glimpse into how they’ve maintained authenticity, even under the public eye.

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