Selena Gomez recently took to Instagram to express her heartbreak over President Donald Trump’s latest immigration policies, particularly their impact on children and families.
In a video posted by her, the actress was seen sobbing due to the immigrant arrests and decoration. However, despite the video seemingly coming from a good place, a lot of people were quick to criticize her for recording herself crying, calling her move “manufactured.”
Selena Gomez Feels Helpless About President Donald Trump’s Immigrant Policies
In an emotional video posted to her Instagram Story on January 26, Selena Gomez tearfully apologized to her followers, saying, “All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”
Related: Selena Gomez Gushes Over Benny Blanco As He Gets Featured In PEOPLE’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ List
Though the video was deleted shortly after it was posted, the heartfelt message resonated deeply with her fans. She wrote “I’m sorry” followed by a Mexican flag emoji to further represent her emotions. However, a lot of pro-Trump people were also against her getting emotional on camera and posting it.
Previously, a report by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the largest immigration raid since Trump returned to power, resulting in the arrest of 956 people. Trump’s administration has pushed for mass deportations as part of a broader crackdown on immigration, sparking widespread criticism.
Selena’s video reflects the frustration and helplessness many feel during these times. “I wish I could do something but I can’t,” she stated. While most people resonated with her sentiment, Megyn Kelly dismissed her reaction as “manufactured.”
“This is Humiliating”: Megyn Kelly Criticizes Selena Gomez’s Tears
Not everyone viewed Selena Gomez’s Instagram video as a genuine expression of empathy. Journalist Megyn Kelly harshly criticized the actress, accusing her of “manufacturing” tears for attention. On her podcast, Kelly described Gomez’s behavior as “humiliating” and suggested that someone with her level of influence should “hold back tears in front of the camera.”
In case you missed it: “That Was Something I Had To Grieve”: Selena Gomez Reveals She Cannot Be A Mother
“She decides to go on Instagram and cry tears about all the illegal children, I guess, who might be subject to deportation,” Kelly said. “But she deleted it after her fans taught her that the majority of the country stands behind these policies. I’m sure she was shocked to get any blowback whatsoever.”
Kelly further suggested that Gomez’s actions were performative. Additionally, she claimed that no one in a stable mental state would film themselves crying and post it online. “Tears happen,” Kelly added, “but this whole process of working the camera to squeeze out more sadness, that’s not natural.”
