Selena Gomez got candid at a recent luncheon about the need to focus on mental health and assist underserved communities that are frequently overlooked. The Emilia Perez actress, 32, addressed a room filled with Hollywood’s most prominent personalities and delivered a moving speech at the Academy Women’s Luncheon this week.
The Only Murders in the Building star has openly discussed her mental health challenges in recent years, sharing with her fans that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. During this recent gathering, she emphasized the importance of mental health care and more details about her own journey. “It’s about taking action to ensure that underserved communities have access to mental health resources,” the Rare Beauty mogul and philanthropist told the crowd.
Selena Gomez Speaks About Creating 'Access To Mental Health Resources' And How 'Isolating' Hollywood Can Be
The Emmy nominee continued: "It's about showing them that when we come together, we can make a real difference." The "Lose You To Love Me" hitmaker went on: "I know firsthand how isolation can make you feel at times."
She stressed: "But moments like this and talking to all these amazing women, it just reminds me that I'm not alone. We share. And when we stand together, we create a ripple effect that stretches far beyond our own lives."
Gomez delivered the main address at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures event, which was attended by fellow A-listers such as Ariana Grande, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Pamela Anderson, Sarah Paulson, and others.
Gomez emphasized the significance of empowering women's voices and taking pride in her latest project, Emilia Perez. She noted that the movie showcased remarkable women both on-screen and off.
Inside Selena Gomez's Battles With Bipolar Disorder And Lupus
This comes two months after Gomez appeared on The Graham Norton Show where fellow guest and British comedian Miranda Hart thanked the "Wolves" singer for making her candid 2022 documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, in which she opened up about her bipolar disorder diagnosis and her Lupus battle.
Hart, 51, said it helped her publicly address her decades-long experience with Lyme disease in her new book, I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You. Gomez was moved to tears during the heartfelt interaction. “It’s extraordinary I’m on the show with Selena. It makes me quite emotional,” the Miranda actress said in the show, after which Gomez struggled to hold back the tears.
Talking to Gomez directly, Hart said: “When I saw your documentary on Apple about your illness struggles, I was thinking, ‘Do I share? You know, is this something I should do?’ Because it feels quite vulnerable.”
Hart then said that seeing how open Gomez was in her own documentary inspired her to spare no details when writing about her struggles with Lyme disease, which she kept secret from her fans for many years, adding: "I watched your documentary, and I just thought, 'Absolutely, yes.' And that's what kept me writing."
From a battle with lupus to dealing with mental health struggles while juggling life as a pop star, it’s no secret Gomez has overcome many challenges since entering the limelight as a child actor on Barney & Friends.
Early followers know her from her Disney days on Wizards of Waverly Place, but she’s since tackled albums, international tours, advocacy, a cooking show, and the founding of her own beauty brand, Rare Beauty.
During her rise and eventual career break, the “Hands to Myself” artist battled panic attacks, bouts of depression and anxiety, underwent a kidney transplant, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
She made it through and has since remained a fierce advocate for mental health, inspiring many fans along the way to speak their truth and love themselves.
