Selena Gomez has spoken out about social media controversy and a probable dispute with pal Francia Raisa, who donated her kidney to the singer.
The drama began with a cover interview Gomez gave to Rolling Stone in which she discussed feeling like an outcast in the music industry.
“I never fit in with a cool group of girls that were celebrities. My only friend in the industry is Taylor [Swift], so I remember feeling like I didn’t belong,” Gomez shared.
A select portion of that quote — “My only friend in the industry is Taylor [Swift]” — was then shared on Instagram as a highlight of the interview. Raisa then posted a since-deleted comment that read, simply and cryptically, “Interesting.”
When one TikTok user published a video laying down the alleged turmoil, including that Raisa does not follow Gomez on Instagram, Gomez herself addressed the alleged tension in the comments section of that TikTok video.
“Sorry I didn’t mention every person I know,” Gomez commented.
Raisa and Gomez had been friends for about 15 years, and in September 2017, Raisa gave her kidney to Gomez, who required a transplant due to her lupus fight.
Fans were quick to point out that Raisa is not addressed in the recently released documentary, My Mind and Me, which exposes Gomez’s experiences with mental health difficulties over the previous six years, on top of the turmoil surrounding Gomez’s interview comment.
Raisa said in October 2019 about her choice to give her organs to a friend in need.
“It was a decision that was very faith-based and… she and I have talked about it before,” Raisa explained. “It just kinda happened coincidentally, but I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe that that’s God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” she added of the surgery.