Selena Gomez has been criticized for garnering attention primarily for her personal life rather than leaving a significant mark in her professional career.
Since stepping into the entertainment industry, Selena Gomez has become the center of attention for the international media. To this day, she still holds the record for the most-followed female celebrity on Instagram, despite being less active in recent years. In the eyes of the public, she is remembered for high-profile relationships with Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, as well as her battle with the autoimmune disease lupus. Consequently, some opinions suggest that her fame mainly stems from these off-screen controversies rather than her talent and achievements in her career.
Undoubtedly, Selena Gomez’s relationship with Justin Bieber is a significant milestone in both her career and personal life. They came together when both were at the peak of their careers, creating an unprecedented media frenzy at the time. Many even likened their romance to the attention-grabbing nature of the marriage between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
To this day, the off-screen dramas between Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber have not ceased, even though the two have been unrelated for many years. After their breakup, the public still tends to focus on new developments in their past relationship rather than their individual projects. At the end of 2019, Selena Gomez made a comeback with the single “Lose You To Love Me” after a long battle with illness. The song’s content was inspired by her relationship with Bieber, attracting widespread attention from audiences and helping the singer achieve her first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping hit. However, this achievement was somewhat overshadowed by the perception from some netizens that Selena Gomez still needed to rely on her ex-boyfriend to make a mark in her career after many years. It can be said that the name Justin Bieber has haunted Selena Gomez’s career like a “ghost” for many years.
However, the 90s star is currently facing a significant opportunity to establish a new milestone in her artistic career, without any association with her past relationship. At the ongoing Cannes Film Festival in France, Selena Gomez plays a crucial role in the film project “Emilia Perez,” which is considered a strong contender for this year’s Palme d’Or.
The script of “Emilia Pérez” follows the escape journey of Mexican drug lord Manitas (played by Karla Sofía Gascón). She hires lawyer Rita to help her arrange this escape to avoid prosecution. In order to eliminate all evidence, Manitas decides to transition and live a new life. However, deep down, the drug lord has long desired to become a woman. In the film, Selena Gomez portrays the wife of the main character. Critics have praised the actress’s performance, applauding her ability to portray both the toughness and vulnerability of the character.
Originating from a Disney child star, Selena Gomez has long proven herself to be one of Hollywood’s most versatile artists. She began her career as an actress and immediately gained attention with numerous successful television projects. Later on, she ventured into various roles such as singer, songwriter, producer, and businesswoman, achieving significant success in each.
However, the vicious autoimmune disease lupus greatly affected her artistic journey. At the end of 2013, Selena Gomez had to cancel her first-ever world tour due to health issues. Shortly after, the singer was diagnosed with the disease and embarked on a grueling battle, both physically and mentally, for several years. “I’ve had a lot of issues with depression, anxiety. I’ve spoken out about that. But it’s not something I feel I’ll ever overcome. I think it’s a battle I’m gonna have to face for the rest of my life,” she shared in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar magazine in 2018.
Selena Gomez’s health improved only after receiving a kidney donation from her close friend Francia Raisa. However, shortly afterward, Selena was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The medication she uses for treatment makes it difficult for her to conceive. Selena expressed great pain upon receiving this news: “Having a child is a huge dream of mine. I want to have a child. I will do whatever it takes to have a child,” the singer once revealed.
In recent years, Selena Gomez has been making efforts to return to the arts, primarily as an actress. Before “Emilia Perez,” the American star had several notable projects. In 2019, her film “The Dead Don’t Die” was also selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival and received much attention from audiences. She also had an impressive role in the romantic drama “A Rainy Day in New York” alongside Timothée Chalamet.
From 2021 to the present, Selena has starred and served as a producer for “Only Murders in the Building,” a popular series streaming on Hulu. To date, the project has won 4 Emmy Awards and numerous other prestigious American film awards. In the past two years, she has also received two Emmy nominations for her own show, “Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays,” a reality cooking show.
Despite not making too much noise, Selena Gomez is gradually rebuilding her career after the ups and downs of relationships and health. These achievements serve as evidence that she no longer needs to rely on Justin Bieber’s name to attract the attention of the public and the professional community.
