Those Justin & Kourtney Rumors Are Heating Up

No one was a bigger skeptic of those Justin Bieber and Kourtney Kardashian "hookup" rumors than I, but I may just have to eat my hat (a phrase no one has probably uttered since 1952), because the stories are only heating up — and guys, it might be legit. Because, yes, despite the revelation that the mystery woman in that practically NSFW Bieber Insta is NOT Kardashian, the Bieber/Kardashian dating rumors are only getting stronger. Just a reminder that this is real life.

We were first introduced to the possibility that Bieber, 21, and Kardashian, 36, possibly make out and stuff when Us Weekly reported over the weekend that the "Sorry" singer "bragged to friends recently that he has been hooking up with Kourtney Kardashian," their source claimed. Added another insider: "Oh, yeah, that’s definitely happening and has been for some time now. Every time Kourtney and Justin are together they’re extremely flirtatious. They text each other all the time."

Though conspiracy theories abound — and the whole situation is just so randomly bizarre (due in part to their 15-year age difference and the fact that Kardashian is estranged from Scott Disick, the father of her three children, because of his questionable behavior) — the sources' claims are only gaining traction, as evidenced by new reports.

"Justin and Kourtney have been hooking up since late August, early September," an insider recently told Us Weekly in a new report, which at least seems to fit in with the timeline of the selfie of the two at Halloween Horror Nights (check it out above). But while Kardashian and Bieber have been pals for years (see: this adorable picture of JB giving Kardashian's oldest son, Mason, a piggyback ride), "Justin started hanging out with Kourtney alone because she started going out more," another source told the magazine. (Bieber and Kardashian recently went out to celeb hotspot The Nice Guy, the mag reported, and later hit up a karaoke bar.)

While Us Weekly's sources have a good track record for being reliable (in a tabloid accuracy report over at Gawker, Us is far and away the most accurate), it always helps to have backup from insiders from the Holy Grail of celebrity weeklies: People magazine. And their sources are only adding fuel to this Bieber/Kardashian fire.

A People source also recently chimed in about the rumors, telling the iconic celebrity magazine that Bieber "has had a huge ego boost from hooking up with Kourt. It's been going on for a few months," the insider revealed — a claim that backs up Us Weekly's source. "He is used to being swooned by young girls that have nothing else going on. Kourt is a hot mom with a career."

As for how Disick comes into play here, the People source revealed that it might be Kardashian's way of flaunting in front of her ex — but Bieber apparently doesn't mind.

"He more thought, 'Wow,' and couldn't believe that she would go for him,'" the insider told the magazine. "He brags about how hot she is. He is happy while it lasts. Even if she is using him to get back at Scott, he couldn't care less."

And to make things even more believable, Gossip Cop — a site known for shutting down celebrity rumors left and right — reported on the whole story over the weekend, as well. And when Gossip Cop claims that Bieber and Kardashian are "casually hooking up," well, that may make even the most skeptic naysayers (me) raise an eyebrow or two.

Justin Bieber and Kourtney Kardashian: Who would've thought?