Sorry, Selena Gomez fans; you’ll be seeing a lot less of the “Kill ‘Em With Kindness” singer for the time being.
Gomez said Tuesday that she will “take some time off” to deal with the “anxiety, panic attacks and depression” she’s been suffering as the result of her lupus.
“As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways,” Gomez, 24, told People. “I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges.”
Gomez added, “I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off.”
Thanking her fans for their support, the singer concluded, “I know I am not alone by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues.”
In an interview with Billboard late last year, Gomez noted that she had been diagnosed with the autoimmune condition the previous year, and took a break to undergo chemotherapy — a hiatus that some tabloids claimed was actually due to a rehab stint.
The singer noted that she was furious about the misinterpretation.
“I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re assholes,’” Gomez said in the interview. “But I was angry I even felt the need to say that. It’s awful walking into a restaurant and having the whole room look at you, knowing what they’re saying. I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again.”