The release of Selena Gomez’s latest music video for “In The Dark” has ignited a passionate discussion among her fanbase, with many questioning her evolving facial features and debating whether they are due to aesthetic enhancements or the effects of her documented health struggles.
Selena Gomez has once again captured the attention of her global fanbase, this time with her latest music video, “In The Dark.” Released on October 23 as part of the Nobody Wants This Season 2 soundtrack, the three-minute track has quickly amassed over 1.5 million views on YouTube. However, the conversation around the video extends far beyond its ’80s-inspired visuals, which feature Gomez in striking black leotards and glossy leather jackets.
The core of the recent uproar lies in Selena Gomez’s appearance, specifically her facial features, which have become the subject of intense scrutiny and debate across social media platforms. Fans and critics alike are speculating about possible facial transformations, leading to accusations of excessive cosmetic procedures.
The “In The Dark” Music Video: A Closer Look at Fan Reactions
Directed by Luke Orlando, the “In The Dark” music video showcases Gomez in a distinct aesthetic. However, many social media users were quick to comment on her look. One critic starkly stated, “Oh my god, someone tell her to slow down with the Sculptra because at this point it’s like malpractice.” Another echoed this sentiment, exclaiming, “Fillers are a PLAGUE. What are people doing to their faces??” These comments reflect a broader concern among some fans about celebrity beauty standards and the perceived pressure to undergo cosmetic enhancements.
The dialogue escalated with a popular fan account, @selenagomezbil, sharing a side-by-side collage captioned, “Selena Gomez looks stunning for the ‘In The Dark’ music video.” However, user Allie Voss strongly disagreed, writing on her own X account, “Fillers are a PLAGUE. What are people doing to their faces??” She reiterated her stance in the comments, adding, “It’s so bad.”
Another user noted that while they were seven years older than Gomez, her alleged fillers made it “difficult to gauge the Emilia Perez star’s age because the fillers allegedly made her look so much older.” This highlights a common critique: that excessive cosmetic work can sometimes have an unintended aging effect, rather than preserving youth.
Selena’s Response: Botox Admission and Lupus Defense
The discussion surrounding Gomez’s appearance isn’t entirely new. In July of last year, a plastic surgeon known as Marissa the PA on TikTok commented on Selena’s physical appearance. A displeased Gomez responded directly, stating, “Honestly I hate this. I was on stripes because of flare up(s). I have Botox. That’s it. Leave me alone.” While she openly confirmed her use of Botox, she refrained from mentioning fillers, leaving room for continued speculation.
Amidst the criticism, many fans came to Gomez’s defense, highlighting her ongoing health battles. They attributed changes in her appearance to “moon face,” a known side effect of medications, particularly corticosteroids, often prescribed for lupus. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease with various medical complications, which led to Gomez undergoing a kidney transplant in 2017, with actress Francia Raisa as the donor.
One supportive fan urged compassion: “She’s on anti-rejection d**gs for her kidney transplant, plus meds for lupus. Be a loving human, she has serious health issues. You wouldn’t want us picking your appearance apart. Don’t be wretched people.” Another added, “I don’t think this is all fillers – she’s sick, has lupus i believe? which comes with puffiness and moon-like inflammation.” This “moon face” condition causes the face to appear rounder due to fluid retention and fat redistribution, a common side effect of medications used to treat autoimmune conditions like lupus, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic.
Contradictions and the “Natural Beauty” Debate
Just a week before the “In The Dark” music video stirred new controversies, Selena Gomez attended the Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C. There, she spoke passionately about embracing “natural beauty” and promised transparency regarding any future surgical changes. “I’m as real as I can be… I’ll tell you all the things that are photoshopped. I’ll tell you where I got Botox. The goal is to be remembered for what I’ve done for people,” she affirmed.
She also emphasized that her cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty, does not use professional models for its promotions, instead featuring “everyday people” who haven’t undergone cosmetic procedures. “We use people [in our campaigns] who feel like they could be your best friend. So many brands have been doing this. It’s not just us… It makes me really proud.”
However, these statements struck some as ironic, given her admission of Botox use and the current speculation. One user criticized her, writing, “Advocating for ‘natural beauty’ for normies while you use luxury cosmetic treatments, fillers, botox, lasers, and god knows what else — what a complete joke.”
Further complicating her narrative, another user accused Gomez of misrepresentation regarding Rare Beauty’s models, pointing out that Sarita Fernandez, a face in one of the brand’s campaigns, is a professional model signed to prominent agencies. “She’s such a liar because these are models signed to modeling agencies. She just doesn’t recognise them as models because they don’t fit her narrow idea of what models look like. Weirdo.” This highlights a perceived disconnect between her public statements and her brand’s practices.
This isn’t the first time Gomez’s stance on body image has been brought into question. In the past, she displayed “insecurity” by commenting on models, labeling them a “sick figure” on TikTok. She wrote, “This makes me sick… I don’t care that I don’t look like a sick figure. I don’t have that body. End of story. No I am NOT victim. I am just human.”
Selena Gomez’s History of Evoking Strong Visual Reactions
It’s worth noting that Selena Gomez has a history of collaborating on projects that deliberately push visual boundaries and evoke strong, often mixed, reactions from her audience. Back in 2017, director Petra Collins shared a surreal short film titled “A Love Story,” starring Gomez.
The film horrified some fans with its nightmarish imagery, including:
- Gomez completely naked in a bathtub filled with eerie green water, discovering and placing a prosthetic face on herself.
- Creepy finger-faced monsters and floating faces.
- Gomez surrounded by birthday cakes, scraping icing off her leg with a large chef’s knife.
- A dramatically lit scene showing her holding a human eyeball in her mouth.
Collins, a close friend and frequent collaborator, also worked with Gomez on the music videos for “Bad Liar” and “Fetish.” The “Fetish” video also featured unsettling visuals, such as Gomez tying her tongue, biting into glass, and hosting a candlelit dinner for one, creating a sense of suburban meltdown. Fans then, too, were divided, with some calling it “creepy” and “weird af,” while others “obsessed” over the new “vibe.” This pattern suggests Gomez is no stranger to provocative visual media, often blurring lines between art, personal expression, and public perception.
The “In The Dark” music video is available on YouTube. You can watch it here to form your own conclusions:
The Ongoing Dialogue: Celebrity, Beauty, and Authenticity
The recent “In The Dark” controversy underscores the complex relationship between celebrities, their public image, and the expectations of their fans. For Selena Gomez, whose career has evolved from a Disney star to a pop icon and businesswoman, this dialogue is particularly poignant given her openness about her health struggles and mental well-being. The fan community remains deeply invested, oscillating between critique and fierce defense, reflecting a desire for authenticity while grappling with the realities of celebrity, cosmetic trends, and serious health conditions.
Whether the changes in her appearance are attributed to cosmetic procedures, the effects of lupus and its medications, or simply the natural evolution of an artist’s aesthetic, one thing is clear: Selena Gomez continues to spark conversation and hold a significant place in popular culture.
