Selena Gomez Shut Down a Hater Who Criticized Her Joke About Alcohol

Earlier this week, the Grammy nominee joked about drinking too much in a TikTok video. 

Selena Gomez recently shared a humorous short video on TikTok, likely not anticipating a heated debate in the comments section among her 37 million followers. However, that's the unpredictable nature of the internet. On Tuesday, Gomez uploaded a response video to naturopathic physician, Dawn Bantel's, discussion about "excessive" alcohol consumption. "The CDC classifies excessive drinking as 15 or more drinks per week for men and eight or more drinks a week for women," says Bantel (known as @drdawnbantel on TikTok) in her clip. As Bantel reveals this information, we see Gomez's facial expression transition from curiosity to astonishment to a full-blown "oh no," giving the impression that she might often be exceeding these limits.

The multitalented Selena Gomez is not just a popular singer and actress, but she's also known for her quick wit, as evident from the recent incident where she succinctly silenced an online troll. The said troll had criticized her lifestyle choices, specifically drinking, despite her past health issues. However, fans of Gomez quickly came to her defense pointing out that she hardly ever drinks, something they've observed from her show on HBO Max, Selena+Chef. Gomez swiftly shut down the troll by mentioning in her TikTok duet caption that it was all in jest. In spite of this clarification, some people insisted on criticizing her. One deleted comment questioned her choice to drink after receiving a kidney from a close friend due to her chronic illness, Lupus. Gomez's reply was quick and sharp, reminding them again that she was joking. At 29, Gomez has been battling Lupus, an autoimmune disease that can cause pain and inflammation in any part of the body. In 2017, she underwent a kidney transplant due to the illness, with the donor being her close friend Francia Raisa. She later revealed during an interview on the TODAY Show about how critical her health situation was - practically a matter of life and death. Despite her serious health condition, Gomez was actually making a joke in her TikTok video. According to the National Health Service in the UK, moderate alcohol consumption isn't completely forbidden for kidney transplant recipients. Although they're usually advised against alcohol due to its potential interaction with immunosuppressive medication, research shows that moderate drinking could even reduce mortality risks for these individuals. That being said, it's essential to note that commenting on someone's personal lifestyle choices and health status is inappropriate and unnecessary.

Unwavering fans of the leading lady from Only Murders in the Building, Selena Gomez, swiftly came to her aid when a critic targeted her health choices. One fan stated, "If she chooses to drink, it is her decision. She is free to do as she pleases," and added, "The person who criticized this should know their place." Other supporters pointed out the need to understand Gomez's sense of humor.

There were those who related personally, sharing that "After undergoing a kidney transplant myself, I can confirm we are allowed to consume alcohol! The liver metabolizes alcohol! We just need to ensure proper hydration! People need to calm down!" Another shared their experiences with lupus, stating they weren't offended by Gomez's jokes and encouraging her to maintain her humor - given the disease already takes so much from one's life.

Despite the initial critical comment being deleted, fans continue to rally behind their idol. This situation highlights a vital lesson even if Gomez wasn't a public figure: it's time we stop making assumptions and comments about strangers' health conditions and bodies. Without a comprehensive understanding of an individual's medical history, no one can truly grasp what another person is dealing with or how they keep themselves physically and mentally healthy. Therefore, kudos to Gomez for standing up for herself and her ardent fans for putting internet trolls in their place.