Flavor Flav has praised Selena Gomez for being “so open about her health and mental health.”
The 65-year-old rap star and founding member of Public Enemy has taken to social media to lavish praise on Selena, 32, who has been open about her own mental health journey over recent years. As someone who has faced his own personal battles and documented them in his 2011 autobiography, Flav carries additional weight in the entertainment industry.
“I don’t know her personally,,, but Selena Gomez is one of the STRONGEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL people inside and out. I applaud her for being so open about her health and mental health,” Flav wrote on X. “And I applaud her even more for clapping back at haterz,,, but she shouldn’t have to. [applause emoji]” alongside a photo of the brunette beauty.
Gomez recently hit back at body-shamers on social media, explaining that she was battling a condition known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO. This transparency about her health struggles has become a hallmark of her public persona since her lupus diagnosis in 2015.
“This makes me sick,” the actress, who previously underwent a kidney transplant after being diagnosed with lupus, said on TikTok. “I have SIBO in my small intestine. It flares up. I don’t care that I don’t look like a stick figure. I don’t have that body. End of story. No I am NOT a victim. I’m just human.”
In 2020, Gomez founded her Rare Beauty cosmetics brand with the ambition of promoting inclusivity and addressing mental health initiatives and education. The brand has made significant strides in mental health advocacy, establishing the Rare Impact Fund with a commitment to raise $100 million for mental health services. The company consistently donates 1 percent of its annual sales to various mental health organizations, demonstrating Gomez’s dedication to creating tangible change in the mental health landscape.
The actress recently admitted to feeling “so proud” of what she’s managed to achieve with the company.
“This is probably the most important thing I do with my time,” Gomez told PEOPLE.
The movie star is thrilled that she’s been able to help other people to “feel less alone.” This mission of supporting others began early in her career when she became UNICEF’s youngest ambassador at age 17, showcasing her longstanding commitment to humanitarian causes.
“We’ve built a community with Rare and I’m so proud of that,” she said. “We hopefully have helped people feel less alone and that’s all our goal has ever been.”
Other celebrities who have helped normalize discussions around mental health and inspired others to prioritize their wellbeing include:.
- Demi Lovato — Candidly discusses their battles with addiction, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder to inspire others.
- Ryan Reynolds — Promotes mental health resources and encourages men to be vulnerable about their struggles.
- Simone Biles — Prioritized her mental wellbeing by withdrawing from events at the Olympics, sparking important conversations.
- Kristen Bell — Partners with organizations to provide free mental health resources and reduce the stigma.
- Prince Harry — Opened up about his grief and mental health challenges as a member of the royal family.
- Taraji P. Henson — Founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to provide mental health support in the Black community.
- Michael Phelps — Uses his platform to speak candidly about depression and suicidal thoughts as an Olympian.
