Shawn Mendes is no stranger to the spotlight, but even a seasoned celebrity like him admits that going through a breakup with the world watching was, in his words, “brutal.” The 26-year-old singer, best known for hits like “Why Why Why,” recently opened up about the challenges of navigating his high-profile split from Camila Cabello on the latest episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast.
Throughout the interview, Shawn was refreshingly candid about the emotional toll that comes with a public breakup. He described the pressure that external opinions and constant speculation put on their relationship, noting how difficult it was to keep their personal lives separate from the public narrative. “I mean, honestly, I think Camila and I have just done the best job at preserving our private lives. Little fire of love for each other, because no matter how strong mentally you are, when there are millions of people commenting on it, it’s so hard not to be affected by it, and to be swayed by it, and to be inspired by it, and to desire it because people desire it, or to hate it because people hate it, and it’s just human,” Shawn explained.
Shawn and Camila, who had been dating for two years before their split, managed to keep their relationship mostly private despite the media frenzy surrounding them. But, as Shawn pointed out, the noise can be overwhelming. The constant commentary and speculation from the public and media added a layer of complexity that few couples ever have to face.
For Shawn, learning how to manage the outside noise was key to maintaining his own mental health and the integrity of the relationship. One of the ways he managed to cope was by stepping away from social media, which he said played a huge role in the way people viewed his love life. “And I feel like her and I have just worked extremely hard to just protect each other, and protect that love, you know, and I learned a lot about that. And it’s part of it. It’s definitely part of it. And there’s no getting away from that. But if I’m being completely honest, I don’t really go on social media anymore,” Shawn said.
“So I don’t really see or care what people say about my love life or my relationships because it’s just, it’s honestly too detrimental to the actual relationship itself that I’ve become pretty strict on that part of it, you know, but it’s crazy, man. This is not a movie,” he continued.
One of the most honest moments in the interview came when Shawn reminded listeners that his relationship with Camila was not some scripted Hollywood romance—it was real life, with all the complexities that come with it. “This is real life. This is real love, and love is confusing and hard and goes through dips and goes through pauses, goes through breaks, goes through so much. And so, I really feel for everyone who goes through that, you know. I just feel like as a celebrity, I just want to come at it and be really truthful from the place of, this is what love is like for me, you know,” he shared.
When asked how he and Camila managed to maintain a relationship despite the noise, Shawn highlighted the importance of communication. “For me and for us, I think immense honesty, just like over-communication,” he said. “You know, like, ‘I felt this way when I was doing this interview, and I said this thing, and I felt weird, and I’m sorry if it came off like that. You know, I love you and…it just immediately cuts through any type of assumption that I could make or she could make from anything.”
Shawn revealed that both he and Camila have always been open with each other, which has helped them navigate the complexities of their relationship. “We’re both amazing at that. I’ll be the first to text her. She’ll be the first to text me. And we just, as long as we’re good, we’re good. All the noise is just noise, and that’s been a huge part of it,” he added.
While many fans have speculated about whether the two might pen songs about each other, Shawn put those rumours to rest. “I don’t think either of us would ever cross a line. We deeply respect each other,” he explained. “I’m just lucky she’s an amazing human being and she’s incredibly understanding and thoughtful and caring.”
It’s clear that despite their breakup, there’s still a great deal of respect and admiration between Shawn and Camila. Their ability to maintain a level of mutual understanding and support, even after their romantic relationship ended, is a testament to the strength of their bond.
