While accepting her first-ever AMA for Best Pop/Rock Female Artist, an emotional Selena Gomez delivered a speech on remaining resilient while being authentically herself.
“In 2014, this stage was actually the first time I was authentically 100 percent honest with all of you,” Gomez began, before recalling her lows. “I had everything [but] I was absolutely broken inside.”
For Gomez, 2016 hasn’t been the greatest or easiest. In August, the Chicana singer announced she was going to break away from the limelight to focus on her health due to complications of her Lupus disease. She then entered rehab for anxiety and depression in October. Sunday night (Nov. 20) powerfully marked her first appearance since her hiatus: “If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken.”
Before thanking her fans for being “so damn loyal” while she was away, Gomez flipped the proverbial bird at naysayers at large. “I’m not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore.”
Congrats, @selenagomez! 🎉 Here she is with a sweet message when accepting the #AMAs for Favorite Female Artist- Pop/Rock! pic.twitter.com/JCeE9IijDU
— AMAs (@AMAs) November 21, 2016