Selena Gomez Reveals Lupus Diagnosis, Says she has ‘Been through Chemotherapy’

By Cheri Cheng - 08 Oct '15 10:29AM

Selena Gomez is taking control of her life and shaping her own narrative.

The 23-year-old "Good For You" singer revealed to Billboard that she has been dealing with the autoimmune disease, lupus, which she was diagnosed with presumably in 2013. Gomez, who has been focused on her new album, "Revival" is now ready to share her story.

"I was diagnosed with lupus, and I've been through chemotherapy. That's what my break was really about. I could've had a stroke," Gomez said. "I wanted so badly to say, 'You guys have no idea. I'm in chemotherapy. You're assholes.' I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again."

Lupus is a chronic condition that occurs when the body's immune system attacks normal tissue. This condition can affect almost every system and major organ in the body. Although Lupus is not curable, it is very treatable with drugs and chemotherapy.

Toward the end of 2013, Gomez took a break and cancelled her tour in Asia and Australasia reportedly to spend more time with her family. When she checked into the Dawn at the Meadows rehab center shortly after, rumors quickly claiming that the young star was dealing with substance abuse even though her reps denied them.

Now it has been revealed that she was dealing with some emotional issues after her diagnosis. In the magazine, Gomez also talked about how the tabloids and body shaming that she dealt with on top of her illness motivated her when she was making her album.

"I was in a bikini and got publicly ripped for being overweight. That was the first time I'd experienced body shaming like that. I believed some of the words they were saying," Gomez, who has publicly called out her body shamers, said.

In regards to her music, She added, "I'm so f***ing nice to everybody, and everyone is so vile to me. I've been working since I was 7. I've been a UNICEF ambassador since I was 17. It's so disappointing that I've become a tabloid story. The hate motivated me."

"Revival" drops tomorrow, Oct. 9.