Those Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, and Shawn Mendes Fan Theories, Explained

If you thought Sabrina Carpenter fans would dig through her new album, Short n’ Sweet, for references to Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett, you’re focussed on the wrong alleged love triangle, babes. It’s like Carpenter sang on her 2022 album Emails I Can’t Send: “When everything went down, we’d already broken up.” Old news!

Instead, listeners say Short n’ Sweet is full of references to Carpenter’s alleged fling with “Stitches” singer Shawn Mendes in 2023, which reportedly occurred shortly before Mendes was spotted kissing ex-girlfriend Camila Cabello at Coachella that April. Can you believe that was only 16 months ago? It feels like a lifetime.

Anyway, here’s everything we know about the Sabrina Carpenter, Shawn Mendes, and Camila Cabello rumors and conspiracy theories.

The (Condensed) Timeline

July 4, 2019: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello officially start dating less than a month after releasing their steamy duet, “Señorita.”

November 17, 2021: After more than two years of blatant PDA, the pair announce their breakup with a joint statement. “Hey guys, we’ve decided to end our romantic relationship, but our love for one another as humans is stronger than ever,” they said, per E! News. “We started our relationship as best friends and will continue to be best friends. We so appreciate your support from the beginning and moving forward.”

February 19, 2023: An anonymous DeuxMoi post kicks off Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes dating rumors.

February—March 2023: From that point on, Carpenter and Mendes are spotted together on multiple occasions until an Entertainment Tonight source confirms the relationship on March 13. “Shawn and Sabrina are seeing each other,” the insider said at the time. “They have been hanging out a lot and trying to keep things low-key. They were at a birthday party together a couple weeks ago and were cute together. Shawn is happy.”

March 17, 2023: Alas, Shawn Mendes reportedly tells RTL Boulevard that he and Carpenter “are not dating.”

April 14, 2023: Cabello and Mendes kiss at Coachella!

April 17, 2023: A source said the pair have not rekindled their romance. “Shawn and Camila remain friends with a lot of love and history between them, but they aren’t dating again,” the source tells Page Six. “They’ve stayed in touch since their breakup and decided to meet up at Coachella since they were both going.” The source goes on to describe the kiss as a “one-off,” adding that “one thing led to another as the night progressed.”

April—June 2023: But wait! They’re spotted holding hands in Venice, CA! Then NYC! And even rocking matching gym ‘fits!

June 14, 2023: One day after confirming Mendes and Cabello pair were “dating again,” People reports another split. According to the publication, the pair reunited for two months before realizing the “timing was wrong.”