Internet reacts to Selena Gomez's emotional video: 'Society encourages cruelty and mocks kindness'
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Selena Gomez was met with an outpour of online support after the 32-year-old shared a video of her crying over President Donald Trump's campaign promise to mass deport people living in the U.S. without legal status.
In a now-viral video that was reportedly posted and deleted from her Instagram Story, Gomez, through tears, said she was "so sorry" and agonized over how "all my people are getting attacked."
Gomez, a third-generation Mexican American through her father, was especially concerned about children whose parents or families face the risk of deportation. "The children — I don't understand," Gomez said per screen recordings shared on social media, including by @PopBase. "I'm so sorry, I wish I could do something for the kids. I don't know what to do. I'll try everything, I promise."
Later on Monday, Sam Parker, a U.S. Senate candidate, who ran for a seat in Utah and lost, called to "deport" the Texas-born singer. In a different X post, shared from his personal account, Parker wrote: "Selena Gomez picked illegals over America b/c she's the 3rd gen descendent of Mexican illegals who received citizenship in the '87 Amnesty."
More: 13 books to break down the immigration debate amid Trump's return to power
Gomez defended herself against Parker and addressed his remarks on social media, writing, "Oh Mr. Parker, Mr. Parker. Thanks for the laugh and the threat." Parker did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
Though Gomez did not send for the cavalry, many took to social media to defend the Golden Globe-nominated actress and offered their thoughts on her initial video reaction.
After Gomez shared her reaction to undocumented people in the U.S. facing deportation, she was met with criticism and support. Some people on social media suggested that given Gomez's billionaire status and influence, she could be doing more to help support immigration advocacy efforts.
One X user wrote, "You have the resources to do a lot," suggesting Gomez could help "fund legal services, translation services, permanently fund mutual aid programs, direct action that disrupts raids, immigration assistance programs that facilitate these folks' on their way in etc."
Another X user shared that the "hatred for Selena Gomez for showing empathy for being deported is disgusting." They continued, "Our society encourages cruelty, and mocks kindness. She comes from a family of immigrants and has made a documentary about this issue about which she feels passionate."
In the past, Gomez has been vocal about immigration policy publicly.
In 2019, she served as executive producer of the Netflix docuseries "Living Undocumented," which follows the lives of eight undocumented families living in the United States. "I'm concerned about the way people are being treated in my country," Gomez said of the project. "As a Mexican American woman I feel a responsibility to use my platform to be a voice for people who are too afraid to speak."
Gomez also penned a Time essay that same year, writing that immigration was an issue she thought about "every day."
'I'm so sorry': Selena Gomez cries in video reacting to Donald Trump's immigration orders
Other celebrities also came to Gomez's defense after being met with an onslaught of backlash.
Flavor Flav, founding member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, praised Gomez for "speaking her truth," writing in an X post that he was "Team Selena Gomez." He added, "That woman is always so brave to share her truth … and so many are quick to bully her."
Jason Mollica, a lecturer at the School of Communication at James Madison University, spoke to Forbes in an August 2024 interview about the role celebrities play in political commentary.
"Celebrities are, for the most part, very careful with their image on social networks. Followers know what to expect of someone like Ryan Reynolds or Beyonce on Instagram," Mollica told the outlet. "Conversely, there are notable stars who have certain political views and share them often. They understand who their audiences are and do not worry too much about the other side."
Team Selena Gomez. Again. That woman is always so brave to share her truth,,, and so many are quick to bully her.
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) January 28, 2025
Political commentator Geraldo Rivera also celebrated Gomez for being outspoken and said she should be "commended for her compassion and sincerity."
"People attacking her on social media should be ashamed," the former Fox News Channel journalist wrote. "You can disagree without being disagreeable. We need comprehensive immigration reform. We can't arrest our way out of our immigration crisis. Bravo Selena."
More: Paola Ramos explores the effects of Trumpism on the Latino vote in her book 'Defectors'
Selena Gomez should be commended for her compassion and sincerity. People attacking her on social media should be ashamed. You can disagree without being disagreeable. We need comprehensive immigration reform. We can't arrest our way out of our immigration crisis. Bravo Selena.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) January 28, 2025
So while some people on social media shared similar sentiments to Flav and Rivera's, others were convinced her video was disingenuous or suggested she had not done enough research before posting her reaction video.
selena gomez's mexican grandparents risked everything to cross the border in search of a better life, living for years without security before finally gaining citizenship. and yet, people question why this issue means so much to her https://t.co/Rb4KsLy2Xf pic.twitter.com/r6HJkp8lyj
— ☈ (@tonightwalker) January 27, 2025
Thanks to Selena Gomez's video yesterday, the search for "Immigrant Rights" reached new highs from the last FIVE years in Google. pic.twitter.com/fmrJ7lIELX
— Selena Gomez Updates (@SGchartupdate) January 28, 2025
Selena Gomez's grandparents are immigrants btw. ik yall love to deny her mexican heritage but this isn't the time. There are people majorly affected by these deportations. She's a mexican who can't help her people bc america is turning into a fascist oligarchy. https://t.co/rTu1n0Hmht
— Tayoncé Defense Attorney is a crashout baby (@lesbeyonsay) January 27, 2025
Focusing on Selena Gomez crying or who Taylor Swift hugs while the US government strips people of basic necessities and humanity is so insane. Please grow up.
— Chris (@HuffleBoy) January 28, 2025
I truly don't see America coming together to fight against this until people are feeling so much pain that they stop letting perfect be the enemy of progress. Selena Gomez crying yesterday and people were dunking on her for her old comments. We aren't ready yet.
— Rod (@rodimusprime) January 28, 2025
The hatred for Selena Gomez for showing empathy for being deported is disgusting. Our society encourages cruelty, and mocks kindness. She comes from a family of immigrants and has made a documentary about this issue about which she feels passionate. Thank you for speaking out. https://t.co/IkW3oC8T3H
— Shaiel Ben-Ephraim (@academic_la) January 28, 2025
Contributing: KiMi Robinson and Lauren Villagram, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Selena Gomez crying video: Flavor Flav, more fans come to her defense
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