On Nov. 4, Selena Gomez released her documentary “Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me” on Apple TV+, recording the past six years of her life. The documentary starts with her “Revival” tour and its cancellation and ends with her outlook on life today. Gomez takes the audience through her struggles with mental and physical health, while incorporating her passion for philanthropy. Even though her documentary was initially going to be a tour documentary, it ended up showing her honest self in order to help others with their own struggles.
Struggles with Mental and Physical Health
The bulk of Gomez’s documentary shows her struggles with mental health, starting with her breakdown right before the “Revival” tour. Gomez is seen having anxiety about the tour and struggling with her body image. However, once the tour started, her mental health got even worse to the point where the tour had to be canceled. Along with this interior battle she was having, she was in need of a kidney transplant due to lupus, which she was diagnosed with in 2014. After the transplant, she had an emotional breakdown resulting in her going to a psychiatric hospital.
After being released from the psychiatric hospital, Gomez tells her audience that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gomez gets candid about how she treated her friends and family during her episodes, saying that she said things she regrets. Even though Gomez said these things, her close friends and family continued to stick by her.
Throughout the documentary, there are moments where Gomez talks as if she is writing in a journal. These moments highlight what she was feeling in those dark times, which helps the audience understand her thoughts as well as create this relatable aspect of the documentary for people with mental struggles.
Gomez’s Passion for Philanthropy
While this documentary mostly illustrates Gomez’s mental health, it also shows her love for helping others. In 2019, Gomez took a trip to Kenya and brought the cameras came along with her. During this portion, Gomez is seen talking to students about love, mental health, and education. Gomez seems to be at peace, saying that she doesn’t want to leave to do interviews in London and Paris.
However, when the audience sees Gomez in London and Paris, she is frustrated. Gomez tells her friends that she feels like these interviews are pointless and mundane and that she would rather be back in Kenya actually helping people.
Throughout the rest of her documentary, Gomez emphasizes the importance of philanthropy, particularly when COVID-19 hit. Gomez is seen on the phone with people trying to find ways to help the students she met in Kenya. She is seen especially frustrated when the WE foundation, the foundation she went to Kenya with, shut down their Canadian operations, putting an obstacle in the way of her philanthropic plans.
Friendships
Gomez is seen going home twice in the documentary. Both times, the cameras show her and her cousin, Priscilla Cosme, spending time together and visiting Gomez’s old neighbors and where they went to middle school. Gomez and Cosme grew up together, and have remained close ever since, which is illustrated by their laughing together and bantering.
Another one of Gomez’s friends is highlighted as well, Raquelle Stevens. Stevens is seen with Gomez for most of this documentary. From going to Kenya together to being together leading up to the “Revival” tour, Stevens and Gomez seem to be very close. However, the public is not so fond of her. People all over social media, particularly TikTok, have been calling Stevens out for her toxicity. In one part of the documentary, while Gomez is seen frustrated with the kinds of interviews she was doing, Stevens calls Gomez ungrateful, sparking an argument between the two. While Gomez and Stevens have been friends for years and don’t seem to have any bad blood, fans believe the relationship isn’t healthy.
Response from the Public
“Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me” has become extremely popular. However, with its popularity also came drama.
People have been questioning why Francia Raísa, Gomez’s kidney donor, was not included. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gomez admits that her only friend in the “industry” is Taylor Swift, which was used in an Instagram post by E! News. Raísa commented, and deleted, “Interesting” on the post. Later, Gomez responded to a TikTok on this subject and said “Sorry I didn’t mention every person I know”, seeming to acknowledge the drama.
Overall though, it gave her fans a glimpse into Gomez’s life and ultimately gave them her truly raw self. Moreover, Gomez’s documentary is aimed to help others like her who have battled with their own mental health.
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