It isn’t the first time Selena Gomez has notably demonstrated performative activism.
Knowing her obvious, faulty logic, this will most likely not be her last either. But this time, Gomez may have outdone herself in insulting hypocrisy.
One may remember Gomez’s controversial comments about the Black Lives Matter movement on Twitter back in 2016. The actress/singer told people online to stop paying attention to meaningless drama–in reference to the Kim and Kanye versus Taylor Swift drama–and to focus on more important things.
…Why can’t people use their voice something that f**king matters.
A Twitter user questioned that if that was Selena’s reasoning, then what was the reasoning for her silence on the Black Lives Matter movement or police brutality. Gomez tweeted this in response:
Oh lol so if I hashtag something, that means it will save lives?
Contrary to her own apparent beliefs, Gomez’s social media was buzzing with activity from the March For Our Lives–the protest against gun violence, which also advocated for gun control. The march was a response to the countless school shootings across the country, but specifically, the one which left 17 students dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
In one of her Instagram captions, which she has turned off the commenting, Gomez wrote:
Many have deemed her a hypocrite for the post. Gomez suddenly claims that the March For Our Lives is #notjustahastag, yet did not make the same argument with the controversial subject of racist police killings or the Black Lives Matter movement. Instead, she reduced them to just hashtags.
I love Selena Gomez but how could you say “not just a hash tag” for #marchforourlives when someone once asked about supporting #black lives matter and you shut them down saying a hashtag ain’t shit basically… like how sway, how.
— slim kummie (@dasmylilbitch) March 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/akuchuus/status/978355512445083648
THE HYPOCRISY 💀 pic.twitter.com/EjXNc3UQhe
— denis (@demisvibrator_) March 24, 2018
The Black Lives Matter movement actually shared similar events to those of the Never Again and March For Our Lives movements.
The BML movement had peaceful protests too, just on a much less publicized scale. All three gained support from major celebrities–even if it was just a star who tweeted a hashtag for attention.
In her Instagram post, Gomez also begged for no more violence, as families and children have suffered enough. But does she not realize that families and children are suffering from police brutality? Does she not recognize that people have died due to police violence too?
No one is saying that Selena Gomez hasn’t contributed to different charities or helped those in need–a common argument from her dedicated fans. However, her undeniable performative activism is toxic in promoting faulty ideas.
