Selena Gomez Defends Her Weight Amid Harsh Body-Shaming Criticism

During a TikTok live, the Disney star revealed that her lupus medication has resulted in uncontrollable weight fluctuations. “When I’m taking it, I tend to hold a lot of water weight, and that happens very normally. When I’m off of it, I tend to kind of lose weight,” Gomez said in her live session.

In addition to addressing the cruel body-shaming criticism, Selena also shows her support for others dealing with lupus as well, saying, “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.”

Despite the ridiculous toll this has taken on her mental health, Selena revealed that she's only focused on her overall health, saying, "I would much rather be healthy and take care of myself."

The "Only Murders In The Building" star also mentioned that she is “not a model” and “never will be.”

Nevertheless, Selena ended her TikTok live with a beautiful message to her fans, and also haters. “I love you guys and thanks for supporting me and understanding,” she said. “And if not, go away, because honestly, I don’t believe in shaming people for their body or anything.”

Not long after Selena's heartfelt TikTok live, fans rallied all over social media to express how brokenhearted they were for the 30-year-old singer. With fans also calling for the stop of body-shaming.

Selena has been down this path before. Back in 2018, the Disney star faced loads of body-shaming attacks after she was photographed wearing a bikini while on vacation. Shortly after, the picture went viral on social media, with people calling the singer "fat."

Rather than responding outraged after the body-shaming criticism, the singer chose to kill her body-shamers with kindness. So, Selena posted a video of herself and her friends relaxing in the sun in Australia, where the viral bikini photos were taken. In the caption, the Disney star spoke on "the beauty myth," which she described as “an obsession with physical perfection.”

In Selena's Apple TV+ documentary, "My Mind & Me," the songstress got candid about the pains of living with lupus. She even revealed that her illness has been getting worse. “Now it just hurts. Like, in the morning when I wake up, I immediately start crying because it hurts, everything,” the actress said while crying.

Selena has been through quite a lot. In addition to her battle with lupus, the singer also struggled with depression and anxiety in 2016 and even had to be checked into a rehab facility.

Selena has transformed her years of mental health advocacy into something quite sustainable. With the help of her mother, Mandy Teefy, and entrepreneur, Daniella Pierson, Selena has been able to launch Wondermind, a mental health company.

In an attempt to improve her mental health, Selena gave up the passwords to all her social media accounts. During her appearance on Good Morning America, the singer said, "I haven't been on the Internet in 4-and-a-half years. It has changed my life completely. I am happier, I am more present, I connect more with people."

After more than 4 years away, Selena has finally made her long-awaited return to Instagram. She made it official with a few mirror selfies of herself. "Wait," she captioned the photos, "can you tell I'm back on Instagram ?"

It's no coincidence that Selena chose to address those awful body-shaming criticisms via TikTok. Although the 30-year-old has returned to Instagram, she has a love for TikTok alone. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the actress said, "The only thing I have on my phone is TikTok because I find it to be a little less hostile."

Recently, Selena also opened up about the online hate she faced after her breakup with Justin Bieber and how it affected her mental health. "I went through a hard time in a breakup, and I didn't want to see any of the [feedback]—not necessarily about the relationship, but the opinions of me versus [someone] else," the singer told Vanity Fair.

Photos of Selena going bowling with Drew Taggart of the Chainsmokers went viral in January, with people speculating that both artists might be in a relationship. Us Weekly even reported that Selena cannot keep her hands off the "Closer" hitmaker.

You all, however, might want to hold off on the ship name combos for now. Just days after Selena's dating rumors went viral, the singer took to her Instagram stories to clear things up. "I LIKE BEING ALONE TOO MUCH,” she wrote. The actress reportedly deleted this post just moments after uploading it.

Here is some good news for Selenators everywhere and general music lovers as well. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the "Wizard Of Waverly Place" star said, "The music I’m doing right now is about real things that I’m walking through." Go, girl!

With new music on the way, the singer might be considering going on tour soon. An Instagram account posted two pictures of Selena Gomez performing on a past tour. The Disney star surprised fans by commenting on the post. She wrote, "Can’t wait for tour” and “Should I go this year or next? Feel like I should wait” in another comment.