Selena Gomez faces online harassment and body-shaming over Into The Dark video; Grimes defends her amid cosmetic surgery rumours

Selena Gomez recently made her musical comeback with her new single Into The Dark, which was also featured in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This season 2, starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. After releasing the music video on Thursday, speculation over her cosmetic surgery resurfaced, sparking backlash over her appearance.

A post by a parody account went viral on X, highlighting alleged cosmetic surgery “gone wrong”, with many questioning what she had done to her face. Criticism extended beyond her facial appearance, with users also scrutinising her fluctuating weight. Days after facing harsh trolling online, Canadian singer and songwriter Grimes, who shares three children with Elon Musk, came to Selena’s defence, stating that “accounts should be suspended for body shaming en masse.”

Selena Gomez faces online backlash after the Into The Dark music video

Selena Gomez’s Into The Dark comeback video was met with excitement from fans, many of whom noted that it harkens back to the vibe of her earlier hits like Back To You and Wolves. However, rather than focusing on the music, some viewers were drawn to close-up shots of Selena with her hair pulled back, sparking speculation about possible cosmetic procedures.

A viral post mocking her appearance has now amassed 61.2 million views, along with over 6.8K likes, 8.3K shares, and 3.4K comments. Many of these shares have also gained traction, racking up millions of additional views as users continue to criticise the Disney alum online. Many users even claimed that Selena did Botox and fillers, even though most of the images that circulated online were found to be altered to exaggerate excessive changes in her face.

Grimes comes to Selena Gomez’s defence as body shaming tweets go viral on X

Some users, including Grimes, have also come out in support of Gomez amid online bullying. Reacting to a particularly harsh post, Grimes took to X, writing, “I’ve been on the internet for like 48 hours, and despite minor benefits, I might have to leave. I watched this Selena Gomez video, and aside from a few odd close-up shots that people clipped to misrepresent her appearance, she looks absolutely stunning—probably one of the most beautiful women.”

She continued, “Imagine how it would feel if people talked about you this way. Think of the mental fortitude she must have. How can we not morally condemn someone when a post like this blows up, and they chase clout at the expense of everyone’s mental health? How do you think young girls feel reading stuff like this about another woman?”

Grimes emphasised that such behaviour is unacceptable, stating, “It should not be okay to engage in high school–level bullying. Accounts should be suspended for body-shaming on this scale. This is disturbing—especially because it’s not even accurate if you actually watch the video.”

Selena Gomez has previously addressed changes in her appearance

Gomez has previously explained that changes in her appearance are linked to her lupus diagnosis, an autoimmune disease she was diagnosed with in 2015. Lupus and its treatments, including medications like steroids, can cause facial swelling, weight fluctuations, and other visible effects, factors that have sometimes been misinterpreted as cosmetic procedures.

Addressing the speculation, the Emilia Perez star told fans in a 2024 TikTok video, “Honestly, I hate this. I have Botox. That’s it. Leave me alone.” Despite her clarifications, some social media users continue to criticise her appearance, highlighting the ongoing issues of body-shaming and internet bullying and how one tweet can change public opinions.