Selena Gomez opened up about her “life or death” Lupus diagnosis as she attended the Lupus Research Alliance’s Breaking Through Gala in New York City on Monday night.
Gomez, 25, took to the stage to deliver a heartwarming speech at the Seth Meyers-hosted event.
She explained of her battle with the disease, “I am really honoured to be here with all of you guys tonight, my Lupus community. As many of you know or might not know, I was diagnosed with Lupus about five or six years ago.”

Gomez – who looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder bright yellow gown – added that she’s been open about her own private struggle with Lupus to raise awareness and encourage others to seek treatment.
“I also want people to know why research is so important and why we must support the scientists who bring all the promise of new discovery,” she continued, according to E! News.
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Not only was Gomez diagnosed with Lupus Nephritis, but she was also warned she might need a kidney transplant one day – something she had to deal with way earlier than expected.
The “Same Old Love” hitmaker went on, “Maybe I wasn’t necessarily really good at knowing what that meant so it actually got to a point where it was life or death.”
Gomez confirmed she’d undergone a kidney transplant in mid-September, after her best friend Francia Raisa came to her rescue.
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The singer added: “Thankfully, one of my best friends gave me her kidney and it was the ultimate gift of life. And I am doing quite well now.”
“It feels good to actually be honouring people like you or in my world it could seem kind of vain, but this is really, really special. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a donor, and something as monumental as an organ transplant shouldn’t be the best treatment option available.”
“I’d like to see the day when all young women can realize their dreams of life without Lupus,” Gomez said of being hopeful about the future. “This is why I am committed to the Lupus Research Alliance. So that none of us are alone, especially the young women that I have grown up with and heard many, many stories.”
“I just want to say thank you and I hope we can do something for all of the younger people who need to know what this means.”
Gomez’s appearance came just one day after she performed her new single “Wolves” at the 2017 American Music Awards.
Although many fans cheered for her stellar performance, others were underwhelmed by alleged lip-syncing.