Selena Gomez commanded the stage Monday morning on Today after recently revealing that her break from music in 2013 was due to undergoing chemotherapy for her lupus diagnosis. The Revival singer explained that she's still uncomfortable discussing the autoimmune disease and is angry that people thought the rehab stint was due to drugs.
Gomez took to the New York City stage to perform "Me & the Rhythm," "Same Old Love" and her smash hit with A$AP Rocky, "Good For You," just ahead of detailing her lupus diagnosis.
After dealing with endless rumors of substance abuse, Gomez told the Today hosts: "To be honest, it still makes me uncomfortable to talk about it". However, the former Disney Channel star is using her struggle to speak out and help those going through the same thing. "I feel I'm able to reach my fans and understand people when I am one on one and they're dealing with the same thing because I've been there. I'm trying to take something that's negative and turn it into a positive."
"I gotta be healthy - I shouldn't eat the things I do eat," Gomez added.
The "Come and Get It" singer's health became the point of focus when she cancelled her 2013 tour. After divulging information about the real reason, Gomez told Billboard: "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 added: "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."
The star further detailed how her body was a point of scrutiny in the media, explaining that she was ripped apart and called overweight after wearing a bikini. She then revealed that she started to believe some of the harsh words people were saying and that it was the first time she'd really experienced body-shaming. After experiencing such backlash during a moment of weakness, the hate only motivated the musician.
Gomez' sophomore solo album, Revival, was unveiled on October 9 after the artist went separate ways from former group The Scene in 2012.
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