Selena Gomez has kept out of the spotlight since taking a break from music in August. But the singer made a triumphant return to the stage at the AMAs last night - shedding light on mental health.
Accepting her American Music Award for Favourite Pop/Rock Female Artist, the 24-year-old singer addressed her own struggles with anxiety, panic attacks and depression (a side effect of autoimmune disease Lupus – which causes the immune system to attack otherwise healthy organs and tissue), in front of millions.
‘In 2014 this stage was actually the first time that I was actually authentically, 100% honest with all of you, I think that it’s safe to say that most of you know a lot of my life, whether I liked it or not and I had to stop.’
‘Because I had everything,’ she continued, choking back tears. ‘And I was absolutely broken inside. I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down. But I kept it too much together to where I let myself down.’
The former Disney star – who is the most popular person on Instagram with more than 103million followers – also lamented the dangers of social media.
‘I don't want to see your bodies on Instagram,’ she said. ‘I want to see what's in here [your heart]. I'm not trying to get validation, nor do I need it any more.’
She finished her heartfelt speech with a message of hope to those who maybe suffering.
‘If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken. And that's one thing – whether you respect me or not - you should know about me - I care about people. And this is for you.’
Watch Selena’s powerful speech at the AMAs in full below…
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