Selena Gomez is a popular pop star who went through poverty, the attacks of haters, the persecution of paparazzi, not only did not break down, but also became the face of an entire generation. At the same time, at the end of 2013, the artist was closer than ever to giving up everything: it was then that she learned that she was suffering from a rare autoimmune disease — systemic lupus erythematosus.
Selena Gomez was 21 years old when she found out she had systemic lupus erythematosus. The artist’s popularity was at its peak then: she was considered a welcome guest on red carpets and TV shows, starred and performed a lot, and began a tour in support of her debut album Stars Dance.
And suddenly, at the end of 2013, the singer suddenly canceled several scheduled concerts and announced a career break. She explained her decision by wanting to “spend some time alone with myself”. However, the journalists quickly found out that for some reason she decided to do this in a rehabilitation clinic.
Selena’s fans immediately began to wonder about the reasons for the pause. There were different versions — from depression due to the breakup with Justin Bieber to problems with drugs and alcohol.
“I don't even know what they [the media] really thought of me — drugs, alcohol, partying... The tone of the messages was so disgusting! Most of all, I wanted to tell everyone: You have no idea what you’re talking about. I was furious that I had to make excuses”.
Only two years later, Gomez confessed to the true reasons for staying in rehab. She spent more than two weeks in the intensive care unit, and then underwent chemotherapy and psychological rehabilitation to overcome the exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus and return to normal life.
“I'm fixated on my problems. I was diagnosed with lupus. I had to cancel my tour and just be alone so that everything would be normal again”.
In September 2017, the singer shared a photo on social media showing her lying in a hospital bed next to her best friend Francia Rice. Thus, the singer informed fans that due to complications of lupus, her kidneys almost failed.
“After the doctors ran a bunch of tests to check the functioning of my kidneys, I was told that I have lupus nephritis — one of the complications that patients with lupus erythematosus face. They said I needed to make a transplant. Fortunately, my best friend decided to give me her kidney. This is the most valuable gift in my life”.
After organ transplantation and rehabilitation, Selena’s physical condition stabilized, but her mental health still left much to be desired. To cope with anxiety, Gomez had to spend several weeks in a neurosis clinic, where she attended group therapy courses and worked with a psychologist.
In mid-February 2023, singer and actress Selena Gomez published a video message in which she harshly responded to numerous negative comments from users who reproached her for being overweight.
The 30-year-old actress said that she recovered due to medications against lupus, which she was forced to take again due to another exacerbation of the disease.
“My medications are important, and I believe they help me. When I take them, a lot of water is retained in my body, and this is normal. When I stop taking them, I tend to lose weight. A minor side effect is incomparable to my health”.
Gomez added that it is important for her to be healthy mentally and physically, so she will not give up taking medications just to meet the standards of beauty imposed by society. She also recalled that “I am not a model and never will be”. After that, she advised all critics to finally stop shaming people for how they look, especially if the changes in their appearance are caused by illness.
The singer admitted that although she still periodically suffers from depression and panic attacks, which are side effects of lupus, it was helping other people that helped her overcome her psychological problems.
Of course, if it were Selena Gomez’s will, she would prefer never to know what lupus is, but then she would not have become an example and support for millions of people who had to go through the same thing. Yes, she understands this herself, so she does not tire of repeating that she is “grateful to fate for all the bad chapters in life”. After all, it was thanks to these trials that she became stronger.
by Polina Tihonravova