Selena Gomez has spent most of her life in the spotlight since first bursting onto TV screens, at age 10, as Gianna on Barney & Friends back in 2002.
Since rising to fame as a outspoken and sarcastic high schooler on Disney Channel’s hit sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, the teen pop sensation has evolved into one of Hollywood’s most popular actresses.
In addition to earning multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations over her career, the former Disney darling became a billionaire in September 2024.
While fans have flocked to celebrate her achievements and milestones over the past year, which also included getting engaged to producer Benny Blanco, many social media users have expressed concern over the dramatic change in her voice.
Longtime fans of the Rare Beauty founder pointed out that her tone while speaking has dramatically changed from lively and full of life to monotone and sluggish.
The shift in her voice became more noticeable this past award season during her red carpet interviews, particularly at the Golden Globes, and while presenting at the 97th Oscars.
In a viral video, which has surpassed 1.9 million views, one TikToker compiled footage of Gomez over years to showcase the stark difference in how she talks.
The first clip in the recording showed Gomez, who was just a teenager, at the time, excitedly talking about wanting to guest star on Gossip Girl someday.
As she spoke, the performer was very expressive and animated as she listed all the reasons she loved the CW drama, which starred Blake Lively and Leighton Meester.
The next video showed her delivering a heartfelt acceptance speech, at age 24, about depression at the American Music Awards in 2016.
During the post-rehab appearance, there was a shift in her speaking voice, most likely from nerves as she spoke candidly about her physical and emotional health issues.
‘In 2014 this stage was actually the first time I was authentically 100 percent honest with all of you,’ she said. ‘I think it’s safe to say most of you know a lot of my life whether I liked it or not.’
She continued: ‘I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside and I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down.’
At the time, she had checked into a treatment facility back to focus on her mental health after canceling the 34 remaining shows on her Revival world tour.
The next clip fast forwarded to 2024 as Gomez sat down for an interview with young fashion reporter, Taylen Biggs, 11.
The Emilia Pérez star seemed a lot less exuberant than when she was a rising star as she bashfully spoke about being a public figure.
‘I think people probably know to much about me,’ she said while using her left hand to cover part of her face. ‘I guess I had to get use to this idea that my life isn’t always going to be just me. Sometimes it comes with a lot of noise.’
Another clip that highlighted the distinct contrast in Gomez’s speaking voice over the years was during a recent interview with Access Hollywood at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards.
The interview, which took place in January, worried her fans as many felt she looked ‘out of it’ and was slurring her words.
‘It looks like it’s painful for her to talk at the end clip,’ one TikTok user commented.
Some speculated that the change in voice could be ‘a combination of her medication and lupus’ or pushing through anxiety.
‘I’ve had two kidney transplants and I have an ostomy bag and I probably take similar medications to Selena,’ one said in her defense. ‘I could not imagine being on a red carpet with all those flashing lights and loud noises. It’s super overwhelming just doing everyday tasks in bright sunlight when your on transplant medications, let alone a crazy red carpet event.’
Another commented: ‘I have an autoimmune disease that sometimes makes my brain fog up a bit. Selena is doing the best to live a normal life with her condition. These kind of illnesses go wild when you pass 30 years so it must be harder now to manage.’
According to Healthline, lupus can ’cause inflammation and tissue damage’ to the vocal cords and lungs that causes a person’s voice to sound more hoarse or fatigued.