Selena Gomez has recently broken her silence on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but her fans appear to be less than satisfied with her response. While Selena did condemn the violence against innocent civilians, she also expressed doubts about the impact of her statement, despite being one of the most influential figures on the Internet. Her prolonged silence on the matter has also drawn criticism.
In an Instagram Story, Selena shared her thoughts on the ongoing crisis, saying, “I’ve been taking a break from social media because my heart breaks to see all of the horror, hate, violence, and terror that’s going on in the world. People being tortured and killed or any act of hate towards any one group is horrific. We need to protect ALL people, especially children and stop the violence for good.”
Although Selena’s Instagram page remains online, the statement was quickly removed, leaving it unclear whether or not she will truly deactivate the account.
She further added, “I’m sorry if my words will never be enough for everyone or a hashtag. I just can’t stand by innocent people getting hurt. That’s what makes me sick. I wish I could change the world. But a post won’t.”
However, Selena’s statement didn’t sit well with some of her fans, particularly those who expected a more proactive stance. Her post was shared on the entertainment page Pop Base, where critical comments flooded the section.
One user commented, “she’s literally the most followed woman on IG, but her post won’t do anything? Um, okay.” Another user questioned her understanding of her own influence, saying, “But a post won’t? Does she not know how big her influence is when she brings attention to this issue? This reeks.” Some fans felt that remaining neutral when well-versed in the facts of the conflict was akin to supporting the oppressors, with one user stating, “Being neutral while knowing all the facts is just like you are supporting the oppressors.” And finally, another user summed it up succinctly, saying, “She didn’t really say anything.”