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Selena Gomez is opening up about a habit she says left a lasting mark. In an Instagram video posted Sunday, October 18, the singer, actress and Rare Beauty founder said vaping nicotine changed her voice. She told fans she has recently quit, admitted that it was hard to do, and urged anyone who vapes, or is thinking about starting, to reconsider, saying it’s “just not worth it.”
Years of questions about her voice
Fans have asked about changes in Gomez’s singing voice for some time. Gomez has spoken openly about living with lupus, an autoimmune disease, and has previously suggested it may have played a part. When a fan asked about her voice during an Instagram Q&A last December, she answered simply that sometimes things happen. Her new comments are the most direct she has been about vaping’s role.
Why it’s getting attention
Gomez has one of the largest followings on Instagram, and her message reached young fans who are among the heaviest users of e-cigarettes. The Deseret News noted that her post follows recent federal health messaging and research on the effects of vaping on the lungs.
Anyone looking for help quitting nicotine can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW in the U.S. or visit smokefree.gov.