Pop star Selena Gomez deleted a video of herself crying about the deportation of undocumented immigrants. The video was posted on her Instagram Story and quickly deleted after she received backlash from conservatives. After deleting the video, Gomez posted a message on her Instagram Story: “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.”
Pop star Selena Gomez is under fire after posting — and later deleted. She posted a heartfelt video expressing sorrow over the deportation of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. The video shared on her Instagram story, showed the singer in tears as she reacted to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
“I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand. I wish I could do something, but I can’t. Moreover, I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise,” said the 32-year-old singer, who is of Mexican-American heritage.
The backlash came swiftly, particularly from conservative circles, who criticized her comments. Right-wing commentator Tomi Lahren called Gomez a “certified moron” and dismissed her opinion, stating, “This is why we don’t take our political advice from Disney child stars.”
Gomez later posted a follow-up story saying, “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people,” but deleted it shortly after.
Selena has been an advocate for immigrant rights for years. In 2019, she produced the Netflix documentary Living Undocumented, shedding light on the struggles faced by undocumented families. She also penned an essay for Time, stating, “Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country.”
The controversy comes amidst reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up deportation efforts. Since former President Donald Trump’s inauguration, ICE has issued arrest quotas and significantly increased detentions, prompting widespread criticism of indiscriminate enforcement tactics.
Social media reactions to Gomez’s video were mixed. While some praised her for speaking up, others accused her of being out of touch. Memes and harsh comments flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter), with some users questioning her sincerity and motives.
Despite the criticism, Gomez’s long-standing commitment to raising awareness about immigration challenges remains evident. However, her emotional video highlights the polarized reactions celebrities face when addressing political issues.