Tag: selena
What you never see in ‘Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me’
There is a moment in Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me in which it feels like the star’s world has cracked wide open, and she’s bravely invited viewers to witness what comes next.
Both of these things are somewhat true of the Apple TV+ documentary made about a six-year period in Gomez’s life. But the hour-and-a-half-long film does something curious 20 minutes in, when the singer and actress receives a bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2019, following hospitalization for a psychotic break.
Gomez, now 30, tells the viewer that when she first got out, she didn’t know how she’d cope with the diagnosis.
“I needed to keep learning about it,” she says. “I needed to take it day by day.”
Then she tenderly recalls a childhood fear of thunderstorms, which could precede a tornado in her native Texas. Recognizing her daughter’s terror, Gomez’s mother provided her with books about storms, lightning, and thunder. This is paired with touching home video footage of a young Gomez being held in her mother’s arms and playing innocently outside as thunder rumbles in the background.
“[She] basically said, ‘The more you learn about it, the less you’re going to be afraid of it,'” Gomez remembers. “And it really helped.”
For a moment, it seems like Gomez is poised to let her recovery journey unfold before our eyes, but this is not the film we’re given. The intimate documentary shows Gomez in crisis, and yes, her revival, but not much of what happens in between. Though Gomez courageously allows the camera to linger as she weeps over anxious thoughts and stares blankly out the window, perhaps overcome by numbing depression, we never learn what bipolar disorder is, or how it affects her.
Bipolar disorder can be a severe mental illness, typically characterized by intense shifts in mood, energy, and activity. Some people experience manic episodes accompanied by symptoms of psychosis like hallucinations and delusions. We also never learn that people with lupus, the autoimmune disease that affects Gomez, commonly experience depression.
Given the complexity of Gomez’s illness, it’s surprising that no psychologists, psychiatrists, or other healing professionals appear onscreen. Gomez has spoken to the media about how a type of treatment known as dialectical behavioral therapy has been instrumental to her recovery, but she never mentions it in the film.
This is not a criticism of Gomez or the filmmakers inasmuch as it’s an attempt to imagine how else a project like this could address mental health in ways that help others, something that Gomez suggests is vitally important to her. What Gomez offers to viewers instead is profound reassurance that they’re not alone with their pain. The genuine compassion she shows two young women who’ve attempted or contemplated suicide are standout scenes, not only because she recognizes their suffering, but also because she embraces them without judgment or shame. If only a fraction of viewers model the empathy she displays, Gomez may indeed fulfill her hope of saving lives.
Yet just as people need to hear that others, including a celebrity like Gomez, struggle with their mental health, they also deserve to feel less alone in their recovery journey. It is one thing to receive a diagnosis — which is often dependent on access to high-quality health care — but an entirely different experience to piece together a recovery plan. Treatment for bipolar disorder can include mood-stabilizing medications and various forms of psychotherapy.
It’s easy to imagine why none of this is included in the film. Gomez may understandably have privacy concerns. Identifying members of her health care team may feel like too big a risk. Providing details about the severity of her bipolar disorder, or how it manifests, may open Gomez up to questions from insurers of tour and film productions. Executives could wonder if Gomez’s mental health makes her a liability. She may have feared that including details about her treatment would seem dangerously prescriptive to her fans. (I’ve asked Apple TV+ representatives about the film’s approach to these questions and will update the review if provided with a response.)
Such aspects of Gomez’s recovery could’ve also felt less compelling to director Alek Keshishian, who is famous for his unvarnished portrait of Madonna at the height of her fame in the 1991 documentary Truth or Dare. In this film, the catalyst for Gomez’s recovery is a visually and emotionally evocative trip to Maasai Mara, Kenya, where she visits schools built partly because of her fundraising efforts.
At times, these scenes risk becoming a cliché. When an emotionally unmoored, far-from-home Gomez finds comfort in the wisdom and resilience of the community members and schoolgirls she meets, a cynical viewer could be forgiven for questioning the motives behind her visit. There is a delicate line between the perspective-shift such a trip offers, particularly for someone prone to ruminating on negative emotions, and seeking salvation from people with fewer resources who seem to live simpler but more rewarding lives.
What saves these scenes is Gomez’s emphasis on human connection and service. These are balms for psychic pain, a point later underscored by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, with whom Gomez makes a virtual appearance in a discussion about loneliness during the COVID-19 epidemic. The trip to Kenya fuels Gomez’s recovery, giving her a newfound sense of purpose, and the desire to pursue change in the U.S. by creating a universal mental health curriculum for schools.
Soon after Gomez returns home, she experiences a lupus flare and requires intensive treatment to reduce joint pain. The ease with which this is filmed, along with other lupus-related scenes, provides a striking contrast to the absence of footage detailing treatment of her bipolar disorder. It may unintentionally reinforce the notion that it’s more acceptable to publicly document physical health conditions compared to mental illness.
For all of its omissions, the film is a moving portrait of what it’s like to live with mental illness, and more specifically, Gomez’s determination to make meaning out of her diagnoses. She is a committed mental health advocate, as her recent trip to the White House demonstrates, and society is arguably better for the attention and fundraising she brings to the cause. No doubt her fans, along with interested viewers, will feel seen and understood by the film. Importantly, it powerfully counters the cruelty of those who insist that mental illness is weakness, undeserving of kindness or empathy.
“When you’re struggling with your mental health, the essential part of it is knowing what to do and recognizing that,” Gomez says at the end of the film. “I had to relearn things that completely fell out of my mind. It was like, hey, ‘You’re not a bad person. You’re not a gross person. You’re not crazy. You’re not any of this. But you’re going to have to deal with this. I know it’s a lot, but this is the reality.’ I found having a relationship with bipolar and myself — it’s going to be there. I’m just making it my friend now.”
Seeing Gomez endure so much pain, then find her way to this conclusion, makes the film worth watching, even if we never see up close how she built this unique relationship with her illness. In that sense, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me raises more questions than its makers probably realize. Namely, once we reassure others that they’re not alone, what do we say next about the journey that’s to come?
If you’re feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don’t like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.
Apple Promotes Selena Gomez Documentary With Free 2-Month TV+ Subscription
A URL link to the offer was shared by Gomez on Twitter as a “special gift” to her fans ahead of the film’s availability to stream on Apple TV+, starting November 4.
Clicking on the link gives “new and qualified returning subscribers” a redeem code that is valid until December 2 and gives them two months of Apple TV+ access for free. The sub automatically renews after the trial expires unless it’s canceled.
Apple typically offers a seven-day Apple TV+ trial, unless customers buy an Apple device, in which case they get three months free, or they opt for a one-month trial of Apple One, which bundles Apple TV+ with up to five other Apple services.
The documentary film follows Selena Gomez through the last six tumultuous years of her life, during which she spent time in a psychiatric facility, had a failed relationship with Justin Bieber, and underwent a kidney transplant following complications caused by the auto-immune disease lupus.
Today is the World Premiere of Selena Gomez: #MyMindAndMe, at @AFIFEST. I’m thrilled to share a special gift to my fans of a 2 month free trial of @AppleTVPlus. Stream the film on Nov 4: https://t.co/ipG1TXPEn5 pic.twitter.com/Wy9xvvH6sf
— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) November 3, 2022
After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.
This article, “Apple Promotes Selena Gomez Documentary With Free 2-Month TV+ Subscription” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Britney Spears Says She Was Not Dissing “Beautiful Queen” Selena Gomez in Fiery Instagram Post
Britney Spears received the wrath of Selena Gomez‘s army of fans, who branded the Pop icon a “40-year-old bully” after interpreting an Instagram post made by the superstar as a diss towards the ‘Lose You to Love Me’ singer.
The drama centered on Spears bemoaning “the nerve of women who stand firmly getting awards and speak on their beliefs about not showing their bodies on instagram.”
The post Britney Spears Says She Was Not Dissing “Beautiful Queen” Selena Gomez in Fiery Instagram Post appeared first on ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. – Thirsty?.
‘She’s a 40-Year-Old Bully!’: Britney Spears Slammed By Selena Gomez Fans For Alleged Instagram Diss
‘Toxic’ hitmaker Britney Spears is truly living up to the title of her 2004 hit if Selena Gomez fans are to be believed.
Barely a month after being criticized by Christina Aguilera fans, affectionately called #Fighters, for making statements on Instagram that were perceived as “body shaming,” Spears finds herself making headlines for the topic of body positivity again –
The post ‘She’s a 40-Year-Old Bully!’: Britney Spears Slammed By Selena Gomez Fans For Alleged Instagram Diss appeared first on ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. – Thirsty?.
Selena Gomez Unleashes Vulnerable Trailer for ‘My Mind and Me’ Documentary [Watch]
Selena Gomez is baring it all.
The ‘Lose You To Love Me’ songstress has just unleashed a vulnerable new look at her private life in the trailer for her upcoming documentary ‘My Mind and Me.’
In the brief clip, a series of scenes flash across the screen, showing Gomez crying in bed, hugging friends and traveling the world.
The post Selena Gomez Unleashes Vulnerable Trailer for ‘My Mind and Me’ Documentary [Watch] appeared first on ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. – Thirsty?.
Selena Quintanilla Plastic Surgery: Learn The Truth!
Who is Selena Gomez dating?
SUPERSTAR Selena Gomez’s love life has been the talk of the internet for several years.
Between her previous relationship with now-married pop singer Justin Bieber and rumors she’s dating Marvel star Chris Evans, fans want to know who the Disney Channel alum is dating.
Selena Gomez is an actress and singer[/caption]
Who is Selena Gomez dating?
Rumors that Selena Gomez and Evans were an item began circulating in late 2021 but were shot down by her on TikTok.
The singer and actress confirmed she was single in a funny video on the online platform in May 2022.
In the video, Gomez films herself saying that she’s happy being single before panning to a shot of four loved up friends in couples.
This seemed to confirm her single status, which has long been speculated upon.
However, rumors of another romance were circulating in August 2022, when the actress was spotted cosying up to filmmaker Andrea Iervolino.
Images shared by the Mail Online showed them enjoying themselves in Italy.
She was also spotted hanging out with rapper Tyga in August, but it is unclear if the two are an item.
more from celebrity Relationships
Who has Selena Gomez dated?
Over the years, Gomez has been in a number of high-profile relationships.
Her dating history includes:
The Weeknd
International recording artist The Weeknd is Selena’s most recent confirmed relationship.
The couple reportedly got together in January 2017, when pics of the two smooching surfaced online.
They confirmed the relationship on Instagram in April 2017 and attended that year’s Met Gala together.
After 10 months of dating they apparently decided to split due to clashing schedules.
Samuel Krost
Sam and Selena were pictured on a cosy dinner date[/caption]
Perhaps Gomez’s only confirmed boyfriend who is not an A-lister, Samuel Krost was just a regular guy when he was snapped holding hands with the star on a cosy dinner date in New York.
It was reported that the pair met through mutual pal Gigi Hadid.
This was before an alleged rift with Gigi’s sister Bella over Selena moving on from Sam to Bella’s ex The Weeknd.
Krost confirmed the relationship on Instagram after they broke up in August 2016.
Zedd
Gomez dated said for a brief time in 2015[/caption]
Gomez dated Russian-German DJ Anton Zaslavski, known as Zedd, for a brief time in 2015.
That year Selena confirmed the relationship in a radio interview, saying: “I adore Anton [Zedd] a lot and I definitely had a thing with him, which was nice.”
However, fellow recording artist Diplo cast doubt on the relationship, suggesting it was a publicity stunt.
Justin Bieber
Bieber and Gomez had a rollercoaster romance for five years[/caption]
Selena had a rollercoaster romance for over five years with Bieber, which officially ended in 2015.
An on-and-off relationship held many ups and downs for the two singers.
There were rumors of a possible reunion around 2017 but a year later Justin settled down.
He tied the knot with Alec Baldwin’s niece, Hailey, and the two are going strong.
Taylor Lautner
The two had a short lived fling in 2009[/caption]
Twilight star Taylor Lautner had a short-lived fling with Gomez in 2009.
The pair met in Vancouver while working on separate filming projects.
Things didn’t work out due to the media spotlight, with Gomez telling US Magazine: “We would go out to lunch and dinner, but I knew he had paparazzi following him and I had paparazzi following me . . . People were getting a little crazy about us.”
However, she added: “He is so sweet. Taylor has made me so happy. I didn’t know I could be that happy.”
Lautner later got engaged to Taylor Dome in 2021.
Nick Jonas
Gomez dated the Jonas brother in 2008[/caption]
Selena’s earliest confirmed relationship was with Nick Jonas in 2008.
The couple were together for a few months, before splitting up for unknown reasons.
Gomez confirmed the relationship when Jonas’ sexuality was in question, saying: “I dated him!”
Jonas has since married Indian screen superstar Priyanka Chopra.
The pair began dating in 2018 and married the same year in Jodphur, India, in a pair of traditional Christian and Hindu ceremonies.