CritiqueJeu’s co-founder and editor Paul Lenglet told the Daily Mail: “Selena Gomez had a great end to 2024, but the start of 2025 has not been so gentle on her.”
Last month, the ‘Calm Down’ singer appeared visibly distressed in a video she briefly shared online.
Gomez was reacting to the impact of one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders, which is expected to result in the deportation of millions of people.
Since taking office nearly two weeks ago, the president has introduced several controversial changes to U.S. policy, including amendments to immigration laws.
Gomez expressed her concern for those affected, stating: “I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked. The children, I don’t understand. I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”
Shortly after posting the video, the 32-year-old deleted it and followed up with a message that read: “Apparently it’s not OK to show empathy for people.”
The U.S. government has been ramping up immigration enforcement under the direction of former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief Tom Homan, who has been appointed as the administration’s new ‘border czar.’
Homan detailed the military’s involvement in securing the southern border, stating that Trump’s policies send: “A strong signal to the world, our borders [are] closed.
“If you’re in the country illegally, you’re on the table, because it’s not OK to, you know, violate the laws of this country.
“You got to remember, every time you enter this country illegally, you violated a crime under Title Eight, the United States Code 1325, it’s a crime,” per ABC.
President Trump has authorized several executive orders tightening immigration restrictions.
He has announced what he calls the ‘largest deportation program in history,’ estimating that ‘maybe as many as 20 million’ individuals could be deported.
The administration has clarified that those with criminal records will be prioritized for removal, but all undocumented migrants could be subject to deportation.
Additionally, the policy of ‘collateral arrests’ means that undocumented individuals found in proximity to those targeted for deportation could also be detained.
According to a Daily Mail insider, Gomez deleted her emotional deportation video as she was worried it would show ‘weakness’ and possibly ‘alienate’ Republican fans of her beauty brand, Rare Beauty.
They added that the actress is ‘passionate’ about the topic but feels she can ‘never win’ after seeing the negative reactions.
“She is going to stay out of politics and in her own lane after that drama,” the insider summarized.
CritiqueJeu’s co-founder Lenglet also pointed out that Gomez’s performance in the film Emilia Pérez has been criticized too.
The movie follows a Mexican lawyer who is employed to help an infamous cartel boss retire and transition into living as a woman.
“The film’s backlash, especially from Mexican audiences, is now combined with backlash from her video condemning the deportation of Mexican immigrants by ICE,” Lenglet explained.
“Gomez has been known for publicly speaking out, but this can alienate different segments of her fanbase – and potential Rare Beauty, her makeup brand, customers.”
