Although she puts on a brave face when she discusses the body-shaming comments from online trolls, it’s an entirely different story behind closed doors, as Selena Gomez just confessed to being deeply affected by the negativity, and admitted that she often cried her “eyes out” when she read them. Our hearts are breaking!
READ MORE: Who Is Selena Gomez Dating? A Timeline
View this post on Instagram
Selena Gomez Opens Up About Mental Health And Body Image Struggles In New Apple TV+ Documentary
The 30-year-old Only Murders in the Building actress opened up about her mental health and body image struggles in an episode of the Apple TV+ documentary series Dear…, referencing how being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Lupus, which often leads to swelling, fatigue, and joint pain, in 2014 has caused her weight to go up and down over the years.
View this post on Instagram
“My weight would constantly fluctuate because I would be on certain medications,” the “Lose You to Love Me” singer, who also revealed that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2019, confessed in the documentary. “And obviously, people just ran with it. It was like they couldn’t wait to find a thing to bring me down. I was being shamed for gaining weight because of my Lupus.” As well as taking medications to help her condition, Selena famously underwent chemotherapy and a kidney transplant (with a kidney donated by her close friend Francia Raísa) which undoubtedly put her body through a lot.
View this post on Instagram
Selena Gomez Said She ‘Lied’ When She Previously Said She Wasn’t Affected By Negative Comments
Selena then referenced the many times she told fans that she didn’t care about her weight – including earlier this year following the Golden Globe Awards and back in April 2022, where she jokingly posted a video about “trying to stay skinny” but being too tempted by Jack in the Box and getting “got four tacos, three egg rolls, onion rings and a spicy chicken sandwich” – but heartbreakingly confessed on the documentary that it was all an act.
View this post on Instagram
The Rare Beauty founder said: “I lied. I would go online and I would post a picture of myself and I would say, ‘It doesn’t matter. I’m not accepting what you’re saying.’ All the while being in the room posting and crying my eyes out because nobody deserves to hear those things.”
She added: “Though I was posting these things saying it doesn’t bother me, because I didn’t want it to bother other people who are experiencing the same thing, getting shamed for what they look like, who they are, who they love… I just think it’s so unfair. I don’t think that anybody deserves to feel less than.”
Selena Gomez goes live on TikTok to address comments about her body. She talks about her health, medication for lupus and how they affect her body. pic.twitter.com/JL3hIArShB
— Selena Gomez News (@OfficialSGnews) February 16, 2023
Selena Tells Fans She’s ‘Not A Model’ In Recent TikTok Message
Among the internet trolls and body shamers are countless fans who think Selena looks more beautiful than ever at her current weight (hi!) as well as in all the candid and makeup-free pictures she has recently been sharing. (We are definitely among the people who are *obsessed* with her natural hair and makeup-free pictures!
However, despite receiving a *lot* of praise from fans recently, Selena once again discussed her fluctuating weight in a candid TikTok Live last month, telling fans that her Lupus medication is a big factor in her weight changing. “I tend to hold a lot of water weight and that happens very normally. When I’m off [the medication] I tend to lose weight,” she confessed.
“I just wanted to say and encourage anyone out there who feels any sort of shame for exactly what they’re going through, and no one knows the real story, that you’re beautiful and you’re wonderful and yeah we have days where maybe we feel like shit but I would much rather be helpful and take care of myself. My medications are important, and I believe that’s what helps me. So yeah, not a model, never will be – but then I think they’re awesome mind you – I’m just definitely not that.”
