Selena Gomez was at the pinnacle of her career in 2016. She was in the middle of her Revival Tour when she abruptly announced the cancellation of the European leg, citing mental health issues.
That was the first time the rest of the world and her fans heard about Gomez’s mental health issues. According to reports, the cameras for the documentary began rolling after the tour was canceled.
Since then, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness and treatment. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she opened up about her struggle, giving fans a taste of what to expect in the upcoming documentary.
Gomez told Vanity Fair:
“As nervous as I am to put out something this personal, in my heart I know now is the time.”
“I hope that by sharing my experiences and difficulties, it will help people feel inspired to share their own stories. And to have hope that things can and will get better.”
She also revealed what led to her depression in the first place, as Gomez was reportedly diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
“I think my past and my mistakes is what drives me into depression.”
The documentary, released on Apple TV+ on November 4, will show a side of Gomez that few people are aware of or have seen.
She explained:
“It was never this thought-out plan thinking we were going to capture these very personal parts of my life. It just evolved from there.”
For the documentary, she collaborated with Alek Keshishian. Keshishian is no stranger to documentaries, having directed Madonna’s “Truth Or Dare” documentary in 1991.
Aleen, Gomez’s manager, is Keshishian’s sister, and the two had previously met.
Initially, Keshishian had no interest in doing any music documentaries, but he changed his mind after getting to know the singer better.
He said:
“I kind of fell in love with how authentic and vulnerable and real she was. I was expecting a very manufactured person, and I didn’t get that.”
“But what was fascinating to me was, there was this girl who somehow hadn’t put on that armor of the public facade.”
He concluded:
“This young woman has no guile. She is not someone who is savvy about how she should present herself. It doesn’t give her any pleasure and it’s not in her DNA. So in that respect, for the time we’re living in, I was like, This is a one-of-a-kind subject matter.'”
Gomez began working in the industry in 2002 when she was just ten. She eventually went on to pursue a music career by the age of 16. In 2020, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.
Aside from her music and acting career, Gomez also has other business ventures including clothing, handbag, and fragrance lines. She also launched her makeup brand, Rare Beauty, in 2020, which became an instant hit among the beauty community.