A serious investigation into whether Selena Gomez and Zayn Malik actually hooked up.

It's the young Hollywood romance that was over before it even began, but what we're asking today is: did it ever actually happen?

Selena Gomez has unfollowed rumoured ex-boyfriend Zayn Malik on Instagram, along with his ex (and baby mama) Gigi Hadid, Gigi's sister Bella Hadid, and the sisters' brother Anwar's ex-girlfriend, Dua Lipa.

So it's unfollows all round! No one even remotely close to that family tree is safe!

Fans have assumed that the unfollowing spree was prompted by Selena and Zayn breaking up. But this would mean that they dated and based on the evidence... that just doesn't seem to be the case.

Quick! Listen to this episode of The Spill. Post continues after podcast.

Let's go back to what started this whole 'Selena and Zayn are dating, yee-haw!' saga.

Like most modern love stories, it all began with a random TikTok from an unknown woman.

Back in March, a TikToker said her friend worked as a hostess at a New York City restaurant and spotted Selena and Zayn together. According to a series of screenshots of their text exchange, the pop singers walked into the restaurant “hand in hand” and were “making out”.

@klarissa.mpeg #fyp #greenscreen #selenagomez #zaynmalik ♬ original sound

This claim was backed up by another onlooker, who told Entertainment Tonight that, "Selena and Zayn went out in SoHo in New York City last night at around 10:30pm. They walked in holding hands and were kissing... it seemed like they were comfortable together, and it was clear that it was a date."

It's official! They're happily together! Maybe marriage is on the cards? Will One Direction reunite for their wedding? Will Taylor Swift be the maid of honour? The possibilities! 

Okay, except not so fast b because this is the only confirmed sighting of Selena and Zayn out together... ever. 

The only other vague link between the singers is that 10 years ago, when put on the spot and asked which One Direction member Selena would kiss, she replied, "Zayn".

Watch the clip right here. Post continues after video.

That same year, One Direction presented Selena with an award at the MTV Video Music Awards. Yep, that's right. Selena and Zayn totally stood on the same stage at the same time. 

"It's a love story, baby just say yes!" Wait, wrong singer. Image: Getty.

While fans have long shipped Selena and Zayn, even dubbing them 'Zelena', there's just no evidence whatsoever that suggests they ever actually dated. Sorry. 

So what should we make of Selena suddenly unfollowing Zayn? 

Maybe, just maybe... she's sick of being romantically connected to Zayn and the Hadid family (speaking of, remember when she dated Bella's ex, Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye?). 

By unfollowing this man, she's perhaps wanting to, as her BFF Taylor Swift would say, be 'excluded from this narrative'.

It makes sense! 

However, Selena also unfollowed Zendaya (of all people!), which could never be justified or defended, so clearly the Only Murders in the Building actress is making some real choices right now and we should just stand back and let her live. 

Feature image: Getty + Mamamia.