Selena Gomez admits that online body shaming left her feeling ‘sad’ and ‘not white enough’

Selena Gomez says criticism about her appearance online hits her hard, making her feel “bitter” and unsure about her identity.

Appearing on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast alongside fiancé Benny Blanco, Gomez addressed the ongoing body shaming she faces and the pressure of public scrutiny.

“I fall victim to looking at things,” she said of reading online comments.

“It doesn’t add anything to your life. It’s just so difficult from the choices, the people you date. It’s like nobody cares about that stuff with men.”

The 32-year-old has previously spoken about how her lupus diagnosis causes weight fluctuation.

On the podcast, she acknowledged that weight remains a frequent topic for online trolls.

She said, “My weight’s a big one too. Everybody just has something to say and it’s really making me sad. Not even sad - no I’m not a victim - but I think it’s made me a tad bitter.”

“And I feel really guilty for saying that. But it’s true.”

Gomez also discussed the deeper identity struggles she’s faced throughout her career, saying she’s been judged for not fitting expectations placed on her ethnicity.

She added, “It’s the character that gets judged. It’s the way I’m not White enough. I’m not Mexican enough. There’s just so many different things that come up in my face that I just can’t help but see.”

The Only Murders in the Building star said she’s learned to manage the negativity by stepping back from social media.

She explained, “I had to stop after a while.”

“I still take breaks because I’m human and sometimes I read things.” 

“But I do most of the time ignore everything.”

“I don’t have anything on my phone at that moment,” she added.

Gomez credited Blanco with being a source of support, saying, “He’s the one person… when you’re saying those nice things to me, babe, I believe him.”