Selena Gomez Praises Friend Francia Raisa For Kidney Donation

Selena Gomez has been talking once again about the kidney donation she received from her close friend Francia Raisa, and what that decision has meant for her life. On the newest episode of Apple TV+’s Dear…, the Only Murder In the Building star recounted the period in 2017 when she realized her lupus diagnosis would mean she’d need a new organ.

“I will never ever, ever be more in debt to a person than Francia,” she said on the March 10 episode. “The idea of someone not even second-guessing to be a donor was unbelievably overwhelming.”

She added, “It was one of those moments where I felt watched over. I know I was so, so, so lucky. I understand that that doesn’t happen for a lot of people and I know the outcome of some of those situations and how serious they are, so I do not take it lightly that it’s happened to me that way.”

The friends seemingly had a moment of public conflict in 2022 when Gomez talked about her “industry” connections in her documentary My Mind and Me, saying that Taylor Swift was her “only friend.” Shortly after, Raisa unfollowed Gomez on social media and fans speculated she took the comment personally.

At the time of Raisa’s donation, Gomez wrote a long Instagram post thanking her for what she was doing.

“I’m very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn’t promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of. So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health.”

She continued, “I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you. Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery. And finally, there aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis. Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made. For more information regarding Lupus please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website.”

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Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.

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