Selena Gomez documentary revelations: From her faith to how the past haunts her
In 1991, the film “Madonna: Truth or Dare” became the highest-grossing documentary of all time (later dethroned by “Bowling for Columbine”). The director of the Madonna film, Alek Keshishian, was tapped by musician and actor Selena Gomez to helm her own tour documentary. At least, it was supposed to be a concert film. But in 2016, with the cameras rolling, Gomez’s “Revival” tour ended up being cut short due to health issues.
Gomez goes into detail about those issues in the film that emerged, “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me.” Streaming now on Apple TV+, the documentary is raw, candid and lacking a ton of concert footage. The performing scenes that are included feature more behind-the-scenes glimpses than glamorous shots before sold-out crowds. Intimate views of Gomez interacting with family, friends, fans and spending time in her hometown of Grand Prairie, Texas are what make this documentary so special. In those interactions, in voiceover and in handwritten journal entries, Gomez tells her truth. Here are some of the most striking revelations from the documentary.
Gomez is open about body insecurities, particularly with the enormous spotlight placed upon her. The documentary begins with her trying on costumes shortly before her “Revival” tour launches, and she expresses frustration at looking young, trying to shed her old image as a “Disney kid” and be seen as a grown woman. She also acknowledges the double standards of the music industry, that she has to wear one tight, sparkly revealing costume after another while a man could just go onstage in jeans, a T-shirt and a beanie and call it a day. “It’s just hard being a f—ing girl,” she says at one point.
Gomez is also honest about her past feelings of self-harm and suicide ideation. When, on a philanthropy trip, a young woman opens up to her about past thoughts of suicide, Gomez says she knows what that’s like. She comforts another young woman who discusses her self-harm of several years ago, after Gomez gives a speech to a mental health charity.
When a young nursing student tells Gomez she believes in God, Gomez says she does too, to the surprise of the student. The film nods to Gomez’s faith several times. She prays with her cast and crew before a show and tells a beloved neighbor, an important ally from her childhood, who has MS, that the woman is in her prayers. The camera also lingers on a cross on a wall in Gomez’s home.
Despite her future stardom, Gomez, who calls herself “shy,” had a childhood marked by isolation at school, where she says she only had a couple friends and would sit by herself at lunch. Her cousin and close friend was the cheerleader captain and would protect her from bullies. Gomez only attended school until 8th grade; after which, she had to finish her 9-12th grade schooling on set. “To be homeschooled by a computer, it’s not real,” she tells students in the documentary, “[but] it worked.”
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“Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me” is now streaming on Apple TV+. Watch a trailer via YouTube below:
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