Selena Gomez made a big splash at the recent Golden Globes and it’s clear that she has grown up since her days as a Disney Channel star. In a recent Vanity Fair interview, Gomez opened up about being censored while working on the Disney Channel and the lasting effects it has had on her. She discussed how she had to watch her words and her behavior while starring in Wizards of Waverly Place and how it led to her truth tour as an adult.
Gomez discussed how she had to “make sure not to say ‘What the hell?’ in front of anyone” and how that censorship led to her openly discussing her bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2020. She also released a documentary in 2022, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, which delved deeper into her struggles with fame, physical and mental health, and her lupus and bipolar diagnoses.
Gomez said that she felt a sense of freedom from being honest and open about her experiences. She said that even though people close to her were hesitant for her to share her diagnosis, she felt it was important to do so in order to be honest with herself and with her fans.
Gomez said that talking to fans has become much more meaningful now that she has been so open about her mental health struggles. She said that the conversations she has with fans now go beyond just a quick photo op, and that they are now about courage, disappointment, and loss.
Gomez also talked about the toxicity of social media and how she has had to put safety measures in place in order to protect herself. She said she now has her assistant vet any comments that she sees before she reads them, and that she prefers TikTok to the other platforms because it’s “a little less hostile.”
Gomez has been in the industry for almost two decades and has some advice for those just starting out. She said that the industry is “a beast” and warned newcomers to “be careful about who to trust” and to “hold on to your heart.” She also said that she can’t imagine her 9-year-old sister following in her footsteps, which shows that Gomez is not just a former Disney Channel star, but a wise and caring woman as well.
