In a new interview with Billboard magazine, Selena Gomez reveals has been diagnosed with lupus and has even undergone a course of chemotherapy to treat the autoimmune disease.
The diagnosis saw the hard-working singer forced to take a break from her career, and in January 2014, Selena checked herself into a rehab facility in Arizona to undergo treatment for her condition.
“That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke,” the ‘Good For You’ singer reveals.
Of course, at the time, rumours ran rife that the 23-year-old was battling everything from substance abuse issues to heartbreak over her on-again, off-again ex Justin Bieber. Understandably, the constant talk about her personal issues made Selena frustrated.
“I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re assholes,’” she told Bilboard.
“It’s awful walking into a restaurant and having the whole room look at you, knowing what they’re saying. I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again,” she said.
Thankfully, the star says her lupus is in remission and she’s keeping healthy with a mix of diet, routine and medication.
Now, with the upcoming release of her brand new album Revival, the singer is ready to step back into the public eye once more with a sexy, grown-up new look and sound. According to her manager Aleen Keshishian, Selena not only co-wrote many of the songs on the album but also produced it.
With Revival so close to release, the star describes the waiting period as feeling like a “pregnant woman at nine months” – and it’s clear she can’t wait for the world to see her new ‘baby’.
“This is my time. I’ve deserved this. I earned it. This is all me,” she told Billboard.