Selena Gomez Instagram Remarks Spark Backlash

Selena Gomez is one of the most followed individuals on Instagram, with hugely loyal and engaged fans.

The star has, from time to time, stepped away from social media for various reasons and, over the last few months, she has been questioned by users about her silence regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostages to the Gaza Strip, according to figures from the Associated Press. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza.

On October 30, Gomez eventually shared an Instagram Story on the matter. It read that she had been taking a social-media break because her "heart breaks to see all of the horror, hate, violence and terror that's going on in the world." Gomez added: "I'm sorry if my words will never be enough for everyone." Newsweek has contacted Gomez's publicist via email for comment.

Many called upon the star, with an Instagram following of 429 million users, to speak out on the conflict. Several Hollywood stars have, however, been impacted by sharing their stance, such as actress Susan Sarandon and Scream star Melissa Barrera.

Things have ramped up again for the star when Instagram pop culture account PopFactions shared an image of Gomez with music producer Benny Blanco on Instagram a week ago. The caption read: "RUMOR: #SelenaGomez is rumored to be dating music producer #BennyBlanco."

The Only Murders in the Building star fueled the rumors even more by commenting underneath another post by PopFactions that shared a series of photos linking the pair with the caption: "#SelenaGomez seemingly confirms that's she is in a relationship."

Apparently proving the pair were an item, Gomez replied to the post: "Facts."

Gomez's fans positively greeted the news, but her alleged admission of her relationship did not defend her from ridicule from some social-media users who still think she has been too quiet on the conflict.

An angry Instagram user commented on the first PopFactions post: "She out here doing the absolute most under this post over some f****** relationship but when asked to stand with the people of [Palestine] all of a sudden, she had to take a social media bre[ak] *call drops*."

In a now-deleted reply captured by X, formerly Twitter, account @PopBase, Gomez reportedly replied, "You're right," and acknowledged that she had been silent.

PopBase shared the screenshot with the caption: "Selena Gomez responds to Instagram comment accusing her of taking break from social media when asked to take a stand: 'you're right.'"

Some social-media fans of the pop star questioned if she had been hacked, with someone posting: "I think Selena was hacked, it's not possible she's saying all this out of nowhere."

This theory was debunked by some because the star then shared several Instagram Stories with Blanco, including an image of her resting her head on his shoulder and another of a ring with a capital B on her finger.

Other comments she shared across multiple social-media posts included her admiration for her new partner, saying: "He has treated me better than any human being on this planet." Gomez added: "He is my absolute everything in my heart." Both sentences were met with support and criticism.

The recent developments follow Gomez's makeup brand, Rare Beauty, also being involved in a controversy around the conflict. There were claims that Rare Beauty's CEO Scott Friedman is a Zionist, which was met with calls for a boycott of the cosmetics line. A statement from the company on its Instagram account in November was also heavily criticized.

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