Since March, Americans have been either mandated or encouraged to stay home and stay safe. For many, this means a lot of time alone. During an interview for the Variety andiHeart
podcast, The Big Ticket, Selena Gomez shared how her time in quarantine allowed her to work through her anxiety and prioritize what matters to her.
"It's definitely the most time I've spent on my own probably since I was 16," she said. "At first it was super uncomfortable, more so because of the anxiety I was carrying because of everything that is happening. I also feel like I got the opportunity to learn a lot about my country in ways that I never have before. I feel like I've gained a sense of knowledge and a sense of feeling good about saying what I'm saying, and I feel good about what I'm standing by, and I’m not going to let other opinions conduct what I feel personally."
Gomez also touched on the racial reckoning that has been happening in the U.S. throughout this pandemic—and what she did to take a stand. As protests continued across the nation, Georgia activist and politician Stacey Abrams, Black Lives matter co-founder Alicia Garza, transgender activist Raquel Willis, and more did takeovers on Gomez's Instagram account.
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She also featured Ruby Bridges, who shared her story on her account:
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It was almost disingenuous if I post something and give the credit to so-and-so," she said on the podcast. "I want people to hear it from them and from multiple categories of the industry and of the government. Honestly, it was a no-brainer for me."