Topics: Celebrity, Health, Selena Gomez, Social Media, TikTok, Mental Health
Selena Gomez has been forced to defend her appearance once again as she addressed her chronic illness.
The 32-year-old actress, who's recently starred in the musical-comedy, Emilia Pérez, alongside Zoe Saldana, attended the film's premiere at the American French Film Festival in LA last week.
Gomez donned a black ruched dress for the event and posed on the red carpet with her hands placed low down in front of her stomach - super normal hand placement if you ask us!
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However, it's clear that internet trolls didn't agree with many posting on social media about the singer's appearance, insinuating she was hiding her body in some way.
This prompted not only fans but Gomez herself to address the comments once and for all.
"This makes me sick," Gomez commented on TikTok video. "I have SEBO in my small intestine. It flares up."
The NHS describes SIBO, which stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, as 'the presence of excessive numbers of bacteria in the small bowel causing gastrointestinal symptoms'.
The Rare Beauty founder continued: "I don't care that I don't look like a stick figure. I don't have that body. End of story.
"No I am NOT a victim. I'm just human."
Gomez has also previously been super open about her health struggles over the years, including her lupus diagnosis and her 2017 kidney transplant.
In a TikTok live posted back in February of last year, the actress shared with fans the ways in which her body changes depending on how she's doing health-wise in that moment, noting that her weight fluctuates because of her lupus medication, which can cause her to 'hold a lot of water weight'.
She explained: "I tend to hold a lot of water weight and that happens very normally, and then when I’m off it I tend to kind of lose weight.
"I just wanted to say and encourage anyone out there who feels any sort of shame for exactly what [you’re] going through, [when] nobody knows the real story… you’re beautiful and you’re wonderful.
"I just want people to know that you’re beautiful and you’re wonderful," Gomez gushed. "We have days where maybe we feel like sh*t, but I would much rather be healthy and take care of myself."
She added: "So, yeah, not a model, never will be. And I think they’re awesome, mind you, I’m just definitely not that."
She ended her TikTok live with a final touching message to her beloved fans, saying: "I just wanted to tell you I love you guys.
"Thanks for supporting me and understanding, and if not, go away, 'cause honestly, I don’t believe in shaming people for [their] body or anything."
