Selena Gomez is once again at the center of conversation — not for her chart-topping hits or her recent wedding to record producer Benny Blanco, but for her latest release, In The Dark. The new single, featured in Nobody Wants This Season 2, marks Gomez’s return to solo music after more than a year and has even drawn public support from fellow artist Grimes amid growing online chatter.
The In The Dark track dropped alongside a cinematic music video that quickly became a trending topic online. While many praised In The Dark for its moody production and emotional tone, others fixated on Selena Gomez’s appearance — sparking an ugly wave of body-shaming comments across social media.
Online critics accused the 33-year-old of cosmetic enhancements and even circulated harsh memes comparing her to “a monster.” The backlash was swift enough to prompt fellow artist Grimes to speak out in her defense.
“Imagine what it would feel like if people talked about you this way,” Grimes wrote on X. “Accounts should be suspended for body-shaming en masse. This is disturbing.”
Selena Gomez, who has openly discussed her struggle with lupus and the physical effects of medication, has often spoken about her complicated relationship with public scrutiny.
In a past interview on On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Selena Gomez admitted that constant commentary about her body and weight “made me sad” and “a little bitter,” but she emphasized that she’s learned to focus on her health.
“I’d rather be healthy and take care of myself,” she said. “My medications are important — they’re what help me. I’m not a model; I never will be.”
Despite the controversy, In The Dark continues to perform strongly on streaming platforms and has given a major visibility boost to Nobody Wants This Season 2.
For Selena Gomez, the response may be familiar — but it also underscores her resilience in an industry that rarely forgives authenticity.