Music producer Benny Blanco is sailing from the U.S. to London to be with singer Selena Gomez [1, 2].
The journey highlights the lengths to which the 38-year-old producer [4] will go to overcome a severe phobia of air travel to support his partner during a significant professional and personal window.
Blanco shared details of the voyage on TikTok on July 16, 2024 [4]. He timed the trip to coincide with Gomez's birthday in late July and her filming schedule for season six of the Hulu series 'Only Murders in the Building' [1, 3, 5].
Blanco said, "The things we do for love" [2]. He previously discussed his aversion to planes during an appearance on the Steve-O’s Wild Ride podcast, where he said, "I’m not afraid of anything… except air travel" [1].
The producer's decision to cross the Atlantic by sea follows a bad experience that left him terrified of flying [1, 3, 5]. While some reports describe Gomez as his wife [2, 3], other sources identify her as his girlfriend [6].
Staff at Yahoo Entertainment said Blanco was not going to let his fear of flying stop him from being with Gomez on her birthday [4]. The trip serves as a logistical workaround to ensure he does not miss the celebration, or the production of the television series [1, 5].
“"The things we do for love."”
The decision to travel by boat rather than fly represents a significant time and financial commitment, reflecting the impact of severe aviophobia on high-profile individuals. By choosing a maritime route to reach London, Blanco avoids the psychological distress of air travel while maintaining his presence for key milestones in Gomez's career and personal life.
