Selena Gomez opened up about her split from Justin Bieber in her new documentary, explaining that she felt ‘haunted’ by the end of their relationship.
The Only Murders In The Building actress famously dated the Baby singer on and off for around eight years, before they finally went their separate ways in 2018 – shortly before he married Hailey Bieber.
In My Mind and Me, the 30-year-old was seen being plagued by questions regarding her former partner while in public, making things even harder to deal with behind the scenes.
This led her to write Lose You To Love Me, which she said was the fastest song she’s ever penned.
Selena released the track – from her Rare album – in 2019, and raised eyebrows over the subject at the time.
‘It’s about more than a lost love. It’s me learning to choose myself, to choose life, but also hoping that people can find grace and peace in that too,’ she said in the new film.
‘The song is about knowing that you completely lost every part of who you are just to rediscover yourself again.’
‘Everything was so public,’ Selena reflected of their split. ‘I felt haunted by a past relationship that no one wanted to let go of. Then I just moved past it, and I wasn’t afraid anymore.
‘I feel like I had to go through the worst possible heartbreak ever and then just forgetting everything at the drop of the hand, it was really confusing.
‘But I just think that needed to happen and ultimately it was the best thing that ever happened to me.’
As well as the high-profile romance and subsequent break-up making headlines around the world, Selena had to deal with a spotlight on her every move throughout her career, from her Disney days to her stint on Only Murders In The Building.
Throughout the documentary, she could be heard reading haunting diary extracts, stating in one: ‘“I have to stop living like this. Why have I become so far from the light? Everything I ever wished for, I’ve had and done all of it. But it has killed me. Because there’s always Selena.”
Discussing what she meant by this passage in a candid interview with Vulture, the Who Says musician added: ‘I think it’s about discovering myself through my 20s; I had to do that in front of people, and I don’t know anything different.
‘I think that Selena – and I hate talking about myself in the third person, I’m so sorry – is not a reflection of where I am now. I don’t want people to think that I will forever live in this sad-girl world. Because that’s not true.
‘Alek [Keshishian, director] has said this, and it’s very true, that when people say, “What’s the end of the movie?” The end of the movie is where I am now. Living in New York, and just being. That’s all I want to do.’
My Mind and Me is available to stream on Apple TV+ now.