Grimes has spoken out in defense of Selena Gomez following a wave of body-shaming comments that spread online after the release of Gomez’s new music video, “In the Dark.” The song, which appears on the Nobody Wants This: Season 2 soundtrack, premiered on Thursday (October 23), alongside a cinematic video directed by Luke Orlando.
In recent days, several social media accounts began circulating distorted screenshots from the video, mocking Gomez’s appearance. In response, Grimes took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the attacks and criticize the platforms that allow such behavior to flourish. “I’ve been on the internet for like 48 hours and despite minor benefits, I might have to leave,” she wrote. “Watched this Selena Gomez video — besides a few weird derp shots that people were able to clip and misrepresent, she looks extremely beautiful. Probably one of the most beautiful girls. Imagine what it would feel like if people talked about you this way.”
Related
Grimes went on to describe the trend of viral body-shaming as “culture death,” arguing that such behavior harms not only the targets but also the wider online community. “Accounts should be suspended for body shaming en masse,” she added. “This is disturbing — in part because it’s not even true if you actually watch this video.”
Selena herself has not publicly commented on the backlash, but the singer and actor has previously been open about her struggles with self-image and online scrutiny. In past interviews, she has spoken about the impact of constant public commentary on her body, describing it as one of the biggest challenges of her career.
“In the Dark,” the focus of the controversy, marks Selena’s first release since I Said I Love You First. The shimmering, synth-pop track — produced by Andrew Watt, Cirkut, and Louis Bell — explores themes of self-acceptance and emotional reassurance. The music video, which inspired the recent discussion, features Gomez in sleek, minimalist settings — from mirrored rooms to moody neon-lit stages.
“In the Dark” also carries a bit of history. Originally written in 2018 during sessions for Gomez’s unreleased Seven Heavens project, the song was reimagined for Netflix’s hit series Nobody Wants This. The soundtrack also features contributions from Kacey Musgraves, Finneas, Teddy Swims, and Dermot Kennedy, among others.
Leave a Reply