Selena Gomez raised with tears as she spoke of her battle with anxiety and depression while on the scene at American music awards on Sunday.
Taking the prize of the favorite female pop / rock artist, the 24-year-old star made a moving speech about the health problems that led her to seek treatment and take a break from showbiz earlier this year.
Selena bravely addressed the crowd at Microsoft’s Theater in LA saying: “By 2014 this stage was actually the first time that I was authentically 100% honest with you all,
“I think it’s safe to say that most of you know a lot of my life, whether I like it or not. I had to stop, I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside, “she continued as her voice trembled with emotion.
The Same Old Love hitmaker admitted that part of her problem had been working too hard to please everyone.
‘I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together, to where I let myself down,’.
The songstress then reflected on social media culture and said she no longer seeks that type of validation.
‘I don’t wanna see your bodies on Instagram, I wanna see what’s in here,’ the actress said while motioning to her heart.
‘I’m not trying to get validation nor do I need it anymore. All I can say is that from the bottom of my heart I’m so grateful to be able to share what I love every single day with the people that I love.
‘You guys are so damn loyal and I don’t know what I did to deserve you.’
She concluded her speech saying, ‘If you’re broken, you do not have to stay broken,
‘And if that’s anything, whether you respect me or not, that’s one thing you should know about me, is that I care about people.’
As the audience cheered for the star the camera panned to Lady Gaga who was stood in the crowd and appeared to be overcome with pride for her pal.
So dope I got to hang with with the biggest rockstar of the night. (Ya,know besides Sting and Green Day) …the girl with the biggest prize of all a BIG Heart that she shares with the world.
A photo posted by xoxo, Joanne (@ladygaga) on
Sunday was a triumphant return to the spotlight for Selena who has taken a three-month hiatus from her career to focus on her health.
The songstress looked radiant as she arrived at the event in a scarlet Prada gown.
No doubt she was pleased that she wouldn’t have to face bumping into her ex Justin Bieber, as his performance at the event took place via satellite.
Bieber, 22, is currently circling the globe for his Purpose tour, which will be in Zurich, Switzerland Sunday.
Selena checked into a facility in Nashville, Tennessee, to ‘focus on her mental health’ in September.
She explained she was taking some time off after suffering from ‘anxiety, panic attacks and depression’ because of her lupus condition.
A source close to the singer told Us Weekly magazine at the time: ‘Selena is dealing with lupus, but this break is to focus on her mental health. She can go to a very dark place.’
The Good For You hitmaker has spent the last few months recovering at the treatment facility, which is described as a ‘private and quiet place’, but ‘super intense’.
Selena went to rehab for the first time in 2014 after undergoing chemotherapy to combat the chronic autoimmune disease in 2013.
A music industry source added: ‘She was supposed to be recording, but she hasn’t told anyone when she’ll be back in studio.’
In August, Selena cancelled the remaining 34 dates on her Revival Tour to maintain her ‘health and happiness’ and manage the side effects of lupus.
“I think it’s safe to say that a lot of you know a lot of my life whether I liked it or not and I had to stop. Because I had everything, and I was absolutely broken. And I kept it together and I swore I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down.” Gomez continued, “I’m not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore.”
Choking back tears as she delivered her heartfelt speech, Gomez sent hope to those who have gone through the same things she has in the past couple of years. “If you are broken, you don’t have to stay broken.”
