Selena Gomez’s internet battles are a lesson for us all
The solution to cyber bullying may indeed be to “kill them with kindness.”
TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and many other social media platforms have broken within the last two weeks because of the Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber drama. Now the internet is left with one question: whose side do I take?
As many of you know, the drama started when Selena Gomez laminated her eyebrows a little too much, which led to Kylie Jenner posting a photo of her mocking Selena with the caption “this was an accident?” The post was later followed by a screenshot of her and Hailey Bieber on a FaceTime call with their eyebrows zoomed in.
This sparked huge controversy, as many are aware that Hailey is not a big Selena fan, due to the past relationship Selena had with Justin Bieber. “Jelena” was, and continues to be, a majorly discussed topic, as fans cannot let this past relationship end. After Justin proposed to Hailey, many realized that there may have been more to Justin popping the big question than we know. Many social media users in @shaderoom’s comment sections on Instagram rumour that the Jenner sisters strictly hung out with Selena in order to get Hailey closer with Justin. This speculation is something which only those involved will know the truth. However, this does not take away from the online Selena slander.
In 2022, Selena uploaded a documentary entitled “My Mind and Me” which went viral on Apple TV. Within the film, the audience learned about the singer’s life battles—the first being lupus, which she was diagnosed with back in 2014. Selena opened up about her journey with the illness, as it altered her life significantly.
The former Disney star also discussed her struggles with her mental health, creating a powerful movement for awareness and support. Many of her fans did not know the hardships she faced with her mental health. This documentary was designed to allow those who struggle with such problems to know they are not alone. Selena also highlighted the negativity she faced within her life due to hate she received from multiple individuals.
The recent online slander was shut down immediately by many of Selena’s fans, alongside celebrities who do not condone behavior like this. It’s proof that hate and bullying does not just occur in our regular day-to-day lives, but that celebrities can also be victims.
Cyber bullying is a universal problem, in that it can happen to anyone. So, what are the best steps that we can take to deal with this?
The best solution is to follow in Selena’s footsteps and ignore the hurtful comments. Furthermore, we can always be kind, even to those who may not be so kind to us. We never know what anyone is going through in life—while their individual situations may not justify their actions, we must take into account that they may not know how to deal with their emotions. We too can find peace and kindly shut down cyber bullying when we see it.
Staff Writer (Volume 50) — Vanessa is a fourth-year student double majoring in Psychology and English with a minor in Education. When she’s not working or studying, she enjoys picking up a good novel and escaping into the world of reading or playing some of her favourite songs on her record player. She also loves writing. You can often find her journaling throughout her day.