Selena Gomez, recognized as both a singer and an actress, opened up about the harsh scrutiny she faced while undergoing lupus treatment. During a candid moment on the Apple TV+ documentary series The Letter, she revealed that the criticism about her body left her in tears and that she sometimes felt she was deceiving the public by acting unaffected in public.
“I lied. I posted new photos and claimed I wouldn’t let the criticism get to me. I said it wasn’t bothering me because I hoped someone else would feel more comfortable with comments like these,” she explained, describing the pressure she faced to appear unfazed.
Gomez admitted that the constant stream of negative remarks about her weight weighed heavily on her. She underscored that no one deserves to endure such treatment, especially someone managing a serious health condition.
She described how her weight fluctuated as a side effect of the medications she required for lupus, and she noted that some people seized on that variation to target her. The singer said the relentless focus on her appearance felt like a trap designed to chip away at her confidence, and she recalled how humiliating it could be when weight changes were interpreted as a personal failing rather than a medical reality.
Gomez was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus in 2015, a battle she has spoken about with candor over the years. The autoimmune disease prompted a kidney transplant in 2017, a life event she has referenced in conversations about resilience, body image, and the long road of treatment that follows such decisions.
In recounting those experiences, she indicated a shift away from previously shared circles due to the weight of embarrassment and the sense that criticism extended beyond ordinary commentary. The story she shared underscores how health struggles can intersect with public perception, amplifying insecurities and shaping personal choices about privacy, communication, and how to present one’s journey to the world.