Selena Gomez Rocked by Videos of “Shocking and Upsetting” Younger Self
The singer and actress admits to struggles with her self-image in new documentary 'My Mind and Me.'
Yes, your weekend plans should definitely include a screening of Selena Gomez’s documentary, My Mind and Me, set to release on Apple TV+ on November 4, 2022. The story of the singer and actress spans across six years of film footage where little in terms of her star-studded reality is left out.
She also delighted fans with a new song, and an accompanying lyric video of the same name, giving fans a taste of what’s to come. An advocate for mental health awareness, and not one to shy away from sharing her own struggles, Gomez hopes the film and new music will help others find comfort in their own ways.
A new interview posted on Vulture shares even more intimate details of the artist’s life, including deeper feelings of being self-conscious, dealing with body issues, and dark times she hasn’t revealed — until now.
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“I wanted to make something that was a little surface-y at first,” Gomez explains in the interview, saying how she initially wanted to film a documentary with director Alek Keshishian about her 2016 Revival tour. As the tour went on however, her mental health began to suffer, and she canceled midway through.
“I wasn’t well, and I couldn’t continue,” she states. “I had to cancel what I needed to cancel in order to live.”
The Only Murders in the Building actress stayed in touch with Keshishian, who accompanied her at other events and captured other moments in her life, including when she volunteered at a school in Kenya in 2019.
What was hardest for the actress however, was re-watching pieces of her life cut back together. While she is happy to celebrate the highs, her self-perception over the years came as a shock.
“The things I was watching from 2016, 2017, 2018 — I can’t believe I was that girl,” she admits in the interview. “When I watched, for example, the first part of the film where I discuss my body… I don’t want to cry now, but I was completely upset with myself.”
Keshishian also admitted that the star of his film “Doesn’t like seeing herself, which is very different from most celebs, who are like, ‘What do I look like in that? Is that the right angle?’” She also states how she has trouble receiving compliments, but that she’s working on accepting them with grace.
“I couldn’t believe the things I was aspiring to be,” Gomez adds, “which really aren’t possible unless you have a lot of money and you’re willing to spend it to do that to yourself… That’s not the feeling I want to give anyone.”
Gomez has been public about her feelings towards body image, body positivity, and how it affects self-esteem. She spoke about the need for more self-love during her 2016 American Music Awards acceptance speech (which may have been the latest target of a Britney Spears Instagram rant).
Gomez declared, “I don’t wanna see your bodies on Instagram, I wanna see what’s in here,” while putting her hand over her heart.
Despite her excitement for My Mind and Me, Gomez explains that previewing parts of her film were “shocking and upsetting.”
Still, she knows she’s made an impact on the world, and that many see her as a role model. The title track of her newest release, which coincides with the film, was put together with inspiration from her own diary.
“These people took my story and made it something bigger than me,” Gomez elaborates. “I truly am someone who’s grateful for these moments. It’s crazy to realize it’s about to be released to everyone else who may feel how I felt.”
No word yet on whether or not the singer’s relationship with ex Justin Bieber is in the film at all. Guess we’ll have to watch it and see!
